Lecture 10

Organic pest management: Practices

Organic pest management is not a new practice for Nepalese farmers because they were
and are practicing many non chemical means of managing pests such as manual (sanitation and
hand picking for e.g.) and cultural methods (use of crop rotation, resistant varieties, appropriate
planting time, water management, use of well decomposed compost, mix cropping, etc), with the
help of various locally available plants and their derivatives. However, the use of many of the
sophisticated inputs such as microbial preparations and fabricated botanical pesticides are not
common among most of our farmers. They have vast knowledge on manual and cultural methods
but most of them do not have knowledge on biological method, as it is perceived now. Neither
they have sufficient know how about the predators community. Organic and IPM farmers are
now becoming familiar with many of the techniques and do use all the safe means, from hand
picking to the use of fungal preparations to minimize the damage. Some of the marketed
products, like various pheromone traps (Spodolure, Helilure, DBMlure, etc) are being common
in farms especially in cucurbits. Various preparations based on such fungi like Trichoderma,
Beuveria, Metarhizium anisopliae, are also available in the market and few farmers are trying
them. Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) is becoming popular among the framers in controlling
pod borer as it is to prepare in farmers fields. Similarly, Zibatu, a special preparation consisting
of a group of microbial population (developed by Nepalese scientists) and EM (effective
microorganism, Japanese formula and prepared in Nepal) for both pest and nutrient management
are also available in the market and are common in some localities. The following table enlists
the various techniques that farmers are commonly using for pest management.
Table 1. Common practices adopted by the farmers to manage the pests without chemical
Control measures
SN Insect Pests
1
Leaf folder
Leaf folder removed with the help of thorns of bayer (Ziziphus)
Borer, grasshopper,
Neem, urine and cow dung, degraded material, irrigation
2
rice/mealy bug, blast
3
Gundhi bug
Clothes soaked with urine & containing dung placed in field
Borer, rice earhead bug,
Cultural operation, water management
4
sheath blight
Mealy bug, rice earhead
Destroying infected plants, irrigation, insect trap
bugand termites
5
6
Gundhi bug
Gandhe paso
Mealy bug, rice earhead
Destroying infected plants, irrigation, insect trap
7
bug and termites
8
Leaf folder
By breaking rolls or folds by thorns
Leaf folder, borer and rice Thorn treatment, drying the water in field
9
earhead bug
10 Borer
Beauvaria bassiana @ 5gm/lt
11 Ghokre and fadke
Field drainage
12 Various lepiPests
Light trap
Bodopteriansr and leaf
Various plant extracts
13 folder
14 Borer and leaf folder
Mustard cake
15 Root rot
Spraying cows' urine mixed with water; mix with neem water
16 Mealy bug
Irrigation
Rice earhead bug and
Light trap
17 borer

Although many farmers are not familiar with biological pest control, the notion has
entered into research through the collection, multiplication and redistribution of gall making fruit
fly Cecidochares utilis for the suppression of banmara (Eupatorium adenophorum) weed as the
first biological control program implemented in Nepal in early 1990s. Subsequently, Aphelinus
mali (Haldeman) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) was introduced from France for the control of
apple woolly aphid Eriosoma lanigerum (Hussman) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Curinus coruleus
was introduced from Thailand for the control of Leucaena leucocephala psyllid (Heteropsylla
cubana), Cotesia plutellae and Diadegma semiclaussaum were introduced from AVRDC, Taiwan
for the suppression of diamond back moth Plutella xylostella. Some biological control agents
have also been exported from Nepal. Systematic surveys of indigenous biological control agents
of two important pests, Helicoverpa armigera and Rhynchocorris humeralis began in 1992 at
Lumle Agricultural Centre. Trichogramma chilonis was reared at Lumle Agricultural Research
Centre as well as Entomology Division, Khumaltar. Unidentified species of egg parasitoids were
observed from Chitwan attacking Litchi bug, Tessaratoma papillosa. Fungal pathogen
Metarhizium anisopliae attacking white grub have been isolated and manufactured for field
experimentation purposes. Indigenous strains of Fungi Trichoderma spp. has been isolated and
some of the species have shown promises as a potential biological control agent of several soil
borne diseases Works on the isolation of indigenous strain of Bacillus thuringiensis has been
initiated. Fungal pathogen Paecilomyces funosoroceus were isolated from aphids and red ants at
Lumle. Many species of spiders have been identified in rice fields and are claimed to be a insect
controller. However, there is hardly any evidence of application of these bio-control agents in the
farmers fields. Most farmers are unable to distinguish pest insects from their natural enemies.
Many farmers are unable to distinguish between the hover flies (important aphid predator) and
fruit fly (serious cucurbit pest). There may be difficulty in identifying ladybird beetles and
Epilachna beetles. Identification of the diversity of potential biological control agents in each
crop environment through exploratory studies is the first step towards understanding and
promoting biological control agents. Once identified, natural enemies can be conserved, their
roles defined and their efficiency enhanced by adopting one or more of the practices such as
pesticide avoidance, use of selective botanicals, provision of food, shelter or alternative hosts,
etc..
Experienced Farmers are having quite fair knowledge on the locally available plants with
pesticidal values in their different modes of use and the targeted pests. It is estimated that there
are about 2400 plants with pesticidal value and among 425 plants are found in Nepal and
farmers are widely using most of them for managing various pests. The common plants being
used for the purpose are neem (Azedirachta indica ), garlic (Allium sativum), pudina (Mentha
arvensis), ginger (Zingiber officinalis), turmeric (Curcuma domestica), tite pati (Artemesia
alatum), marygold(Tagetes patula),timur (Xanthoxylum alatum), asuro (Adhatoda visica), tulasi
(Ocimum sactum), bakaino (Melia aderachata), papaya (Carica papaya), sisnu (Urtica dioica),
Tobacco (Nicotianum tobacum), pire ghas (Polygonum hydropeper), sarifa (Annonaa squamosa),
sital chini (Moringha oleifera), onion (Allium cepa), siundi (Euphorbia royaleana), sajiwan (
Jatropha curcus), simali (Vitex nigundo). Among these plants about 80 % work as repellant, 11.5
% antifeedant, 6% sterilant, 2 % biocidal and 0.5 % poisonus. Unfortunately, the knowledge
about these plants are dissipating as the old generation passes away and new generation seems
not interesting in such skills. Pervasive import of chemical pesticides, detraction of young
generation to agriculture, loss of plant diversity, and lack of written document about these plants
are the major reasons for this misfortune. However, due to growing knowledge about the serious
negative impacts of synthetic pesticides on human and environment health, the interest on these
plants are increasing both globally and locally. In recent years some commercial products mainly
based on neem such as nimaban, nimarin, multineem, biomultineem are also available in the
market but are imported ones. Although they me be good, however, they are not at the easy reach
of common farmers neither they use these marketed pesticides frequently. Quality of the products
and time of application are of crucial consideration in using such imported products. Fresh home
made preparations are said to be more effective according to the farmers.

Many research works have also been done verify the farmers practice using various plant
materials against different insect pests and nematodes. Among the tested plants, sweet flag
(Acorus calamus), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Boke timur (Xanthoxylum armatum) and rape
seed (Brassica compestris var. toria) have provided good control of grain weevils (Sitophilus
spp, Bruchus spp and Callosobruchus chinensis). The following table gives a picture of farmers
experience in the use of locally available plant materials for managing the common insect pests.
Many research works still have to be done to generate authentic data base pertaining to the
efficacy of the plants, mode of action, chemistry involved, appropriate preparation concentration
and, so on, to come with concrete recommendation to make the use of these locally available,
cheap and safe materials wider and practical. The following table gives the glimpse of farmers
experience on the use of these plants.
Table 2.Some examples of the farmers experience on managing the pests with botanicals
SN Pest
Plants used
Remarks
1.
Grain Weevils Sitophilus Sweet flag (Acorus calamus), Neem, ( Azediracha Good
spp. , Bruchus sps. and
indica), Boketimur ( Xanthoxylum armatum),
Control
Callosobruchus
rape seed (Brassica compresris var toria)
chinensis
2.
Vegetable crops (Cole
Asuro (Justicia adhtoda), Simali (Vitex negundo), Mixed
crops
Neem, bakaino, (Melia azederach), pyrethrum
results
(cauli,cabbage,Rao)
sps, Siltimur (Lindera neesiana), Pyrethrum
urnip, onion, beans,
(Chrisanthemus cinerariafolium), tobacco
brinjal,
(Nicotiana tabacm)elderberry (Sabacus sp), Boke
timur (Xanthoxylum armatum), Mmentha
(Mentha arvensis), Gandhe (Ageratum
conyzoides), Hemp (Canabis sativa), Lemon
(Citrus lemon), Custard apple (Annona reticulata),
and Sopa berry Rittha (sapindus marginatus)
3.
Root knot (Meloidogyne Green leaves of Neem, bakaina, Sunhemp,
Good
javanica) of Okra
(chlorolaria juncia) Dhaincha (Sesbania acculiata) result
4.
Red Ant, Potato
Mulching with Dhurse ( Buddleia asiatica),Asuro Good
Titepti ( Artemisia vulgaris) , Khirro
Result
5.
Coffee (Stem borer)
Marigold, Bakaina/Neem leaves, garlic and
Good
linseed oil
prevention
6.
Black rot of coffee and
Siundi (Euphorbia royaleana) Sajiwan ( Jatropha
Good
citrus (Fungus)
curcus) Besar ( Curcuma domestica) and water
prevention
7.
For sucking insects
Giti mal
God result
8
Aphids (Brevicoryne
dry wood ash in the early morning, Wood ash
Good
brassicae) of crucifers
soaked in water (1:4) for 12 hours filtered and
result
and legumes
mixed with soap water and sprayed.
9
Most of the insects
Cow urine
Good
result
10 Root knot ( Meloidogyne Green leaves of Neem, bakaina,Sunhemp,
Good
javanica) of Okra
( chrotolaria juncia) Dhaincha ( Sesbania
result
acculiata)