Lok Sabha Question No. 2146 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-31
Subject: Crop Loss due to Pest Infestation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2146

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 31 ST   JULY, 2018

## CROP LOSS DUE TO PEST INFESTATION

## 2146.  SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether about 30-35% of crop yield in India gets wasted due to pest infestation of crops and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether nematodes, which are parasitic microscopic worms, have emerged as the major threat to crops causing a loss of 60 million tonnes of crops, which is about 10% of the produce in the country, and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  such  a  large-scale  loss  of  crop  impacts  on  agricultural  biodiversity  which  is paramount to food security in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  proactive  steps  initiated  by  the  Government  to  eradicate  the  pest  infestation  that affects large amounts of crop yield?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a): As per the Scientific literature, estimations suggest that on an average, crop losses vary from  10-35%  annually  due  to  weeds,  pests  and  diseases  across  the  country  (according  to various reports/ publications). However, losses due to pest and diseases are not static and vary from  year  to  year  depending  upon  the  prevailing  agro-climatic  conditions  (temperature, humidity, rainfall) and other predisposing factors such as susceptible crop variety, Agronomic practices etc.
- (b): Yes, Madam. Nematodes have emerged as one of the major problems that causes crop losses  but  estimation  of  crop  losses  due  to  plant  parasitic  nematodes  is  relatively  difficult because nematode can cause quantitative as wells as qualitative crop losses. Besides direct damage, nematode serves as a predisposing factor in the development of disease complexes with soil borne-fungi, bacteria, and viruses.
- (c): Yes, Madam. Crop losses caused by plant pests and disease directly or indirectly affect the  components  of  food  security  include  food  availability  (production,  import,  and  reserves), physical and economic access to food, and food utilisation (e.g., nutritive value, safety). Plant protection primarily focused on protecting crops from yield losses due to biological and non-biological causes. The problem is more challenging with additional complexity generated resulting in shrinking of natural resources that are available to agriculture: these include water, agricultural  land,  arable  soil,  biodiversity,  the  availability  of  non-renewable  energy,  human labour, fertilizers etc.

(d): The  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  conducts  has  launched  a  scheme 'Strengthening  and  Modernization  of  Pest  Management  Approach  in  India'  by  adopting Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM)  as  cardinal  principle  and  main  plank  of  plant  protection strategy  in  overall  crop  production  and  protection  programme.  Under  the  ambit  of  IPM programme, the Government of India has established 35 Central IPM Centres (CIPMCs) in 29 States and one UT. Regular surveys are conducted in different crops and necessary advisories are issued when pest infestation reaches above moderate level. These Centers also produce bio-control  agents/  bio-pesticides  and  release  them  in  the  fields,  which  manage  nematodes. Human  Resource  Development  by  imparting  training  to  Agriculture  /  Horticulture  Extension Officers by organized 2days, 5 days training programme and Season Long Training programme (SLTP)  and  Farmers  Field  Schools  (FFS)  is  also  conducted  to  aware  about  various  IPM components like non-chemical approaches like good agricultural practices, nematode suppressive  crop  sequence,  botanicals  (neem  cake,  castor  cake,  karanj  cake  etc.),  organic amendments with decomposed farm yard manure, bio-fumigation (incorporation of brassica and some non-brassica crops like marigold, sorghum etc.), and biocontrol agent.

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