IPM Packages for Vegetable Crops in India

Insect pests, diseases, and nematodes are the major production constraints in vegetable crops in India. The excessive use of synthetic and organic pesticides in vegetable ecosystems resulted in the development of resistant insects, adverse effects on human health, and the degradation of the environment. Consequently, we sought IPM strategies as an alternative to pesticide based tactics for the management of major pests in vegetable crops through the USAID funded project, Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab (IPM IL, formerly the IPM CRSP) at Tamil Nadu, India. The IPM packages were developed and validated in onion, eggplant, okra, and tomato through a participatory approach with farmers. The IPM package development is in progress in hot pepper, cabbage, cauliflower, and gourds. In vegetable crops, an IPM package of different components—biopesticides (Trichoderma viride and/or Pseudomonas fluorescens), application of neem cake, selection of good and virus disease free seedlings for planting, roguing out of virus infected plants, growing trap or barrier crops, use of sex pheromone traps and sticky traps, timely release of natural enemies, spraying neem formulations/neem seed kernel extract, and need based application of safer pesticides—has resulted in the significant reduction in pest problems and increased the crop yield and economic returns to the farmers. The validated IPM packages have been popularized among the growers through field days/seminars.