A CRITICAL REVIEW ON AGRONOMIC MANAGEMENT OF PESTS AND DISEASES IN CHILLI

1 Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, A.P.500030. 2 Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. 3 Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, A.P.500030. Corresponding author:E mail: sridhar.agron@gmail.com Mobile: 09948735896 INTRODUCTION India is the second most populous country in the world. With the increasing population, the cultivable land resource is shrinking day to day. To meet the food, fibre, fuel, fodder and other needs of the growing population, the productivity of agricultural land and soil health needs to be improved. Green Revolution in the post independence era has shown path to developing countries for self-sufficiency in food but sustaining agricultural production against the finite natural resource base demands has shifted from the “resource degrading” chemical agriculture to a “resource protective” biological or sustainable agriculture. The vegetable crops have been well advocated in solving the problem of food security. They are rich source of minerals, vitamins, fibre and contain a fair amount of protein as well as carbohydrates. In addition to local market demand vegetables have the potential for both domestic and export market. The vegetable production of our country before independence was merely 15 million tonnes (mt) and now it is about 146.55 million tonnes during 201112,accounting 11.4% share of World vegetable production [25]. Although India is the second largest producer of vegetables next only to China in World, the productivity of different vegetables in our country is comparatively lower than the World’s average productivity. Again the per capita availability of vegetable (210g/head/day) is still behind the recommended quantity (285g /head /day). Our demand by 2020 will be around 250 million tonnes. Thus due to the rapid growth of the population with reduction in land, in order to feed the population, the only solution is the vertical expansion or by increasing the productivity per unit area per unit time as the potential available land and water resources and of technology still remain unexploited. Sustainable Vegetable cultivation offers one of the most suitable farming systems with recurring benefits to only long-term soil health but provides a lasting stability in production by importing better resistance against various biotic and abiotic stresses.Chilli is one of the most important commercial crops of India. It is grown almost throughout the country. Chilli is raised over an area of 1832 thousand hectares in the World, with a production of 2959 thousand tons. Major chilli growing countries are – India, China, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, Turkey and Sri Lanka in Asia; Nigeria, Ghana, Tunisia and Egypt in Africa; Mexico, United States of America in North – Central America; Yugoslavia, Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy and Hungary in Europe and Argentina and Peru in South America. India is the world leader in chilli production followed by China and Pakistan[7]. India is not only the largest producer but also the largest consumer of chilli in the world. Chillies are the most common spice cultivated in India. Chilli is a universal spice of India. It is cultivated in all the States and Union Territories of the country. India contributes about 36% to the total world production. In India, Chillies are grown in almost all the state through out the country. Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of Chilli in India and contributes about 26% to the total area under Chilli, followed by Maharashtra (15%), Karnataka (11%), Orissa (11%), Madhya Pradesh (7%) and other states contributing nearly 22% to the total area under Chilli. [13]. Efficient plant protection enhances yield and quality in most of the crops. The present farming by and large depends on the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and growth regulators for enhancing crop productivity. It is a well documented fact that increased dependence on agro-chemicals including fertilizers and pesticides has led to several ill effects on soil and the environment. Maintaining good soil health is a prerequisite for sustaining higher productivity under intensive agricultural production system. Soil health is the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land use boundaries to sustain the biological productivity.