Lok Sabha Question No. 2868 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-13
Subject: Pest Attacks on Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SHOBHA KARANDLAJE

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2868

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 TH  March, 2018

## PEST ATTACKS ON CROPS

## 2868.     KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether after an erratic Monsoon, farmers in nine States are reeling under severe pest attacks and if so, the names of the affected States;
- (b) whether most States in the country lose 5 to 10 per cent of crops to pest attacks every year and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether pest outbreaks are more severe now because of the use of Hybrid Paddy along with fertilizers with high urea and ammonia content and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether it is a fact that climate change, along with the indiscriminate use of pesticides and breaking away from the traditional farming practices have also increased pest outbreaks in the country; and
- (e) if  so,  the  steps  taken  /  being  taken  to  control  sudden  surge  in  pest  attacks  in  the country?

## ANSWER

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

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a): As per the Scientific literature, healthy plants having sufficient nutritional requirement & moisture  requirement  generally  show  some  level  of  resistance  to  pests  &  diseases.  Plants predisposed to moisture stress will be vulnerable to pest & disease attack. During 2017 severe attack of following pests were reported:
- (i) Pink  bollworm  was  reported  in  Cotton  crop  from  Maharashtra,  Madhya  Pradesh  & Gujarat.
- (ii) Armyworm (Mythimna separata) attack in paddy was reported from Odisha & Assam and in Maize crop from Karnataka.
- (iii) Brown Plant Hopper (BPH) attack was reported from Odisha in Rice crop.

In other states, no major pest outbreaks were reported.

(b): Estimations suggest that on an average, crop losses vary from 10-30% 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.

(c): In  case  of  paddy,  it  is  well  documented  that  use  of  high  Nitrogen  fertilizers  leads  to exposure & succulent vegetative growth of plants which are favourable for Brown Plant Hopper (BPH). Hence for the management of BPH, it is recommended to use low nitrogenous fertilizers or slow releasing nitrogenous fertilizers.

(d): Increased  pest  outbreak  can  be  attributed  to  various  factors.  Indiscriminate  use  of pesticides is one of them, as pest develops resistance   against the pesticide and may cause resurgence  of  pest.  Indiscriminate  use  of  pesticides  also  affects  the  environment,  beneficial organisms such as pollinators, predators & parasitoids found in the crop, non-target vegetation, soil & air.

(e): The  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing  'Strengthening  and Modernization of Pest Management Approach in India' (SMPMA) Scheme through 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) established across the country with an aim to promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecological approach which aims to keep pest population below economic thresholds level by employing available alternate pest control strategies and techniques viz. preventive measures, cultural, mechanical and biological control with greater emphasis on usage of bio-pesticides and pesticides  of  plant-origin  like  Neem  formulation  etc.  CIPMCs  inter  alia,  produce  biological agents for release in the fields, conserve natural bio-control agents, promote bio-pesticides as an  alternative  to  chemical  pesticides  and  advocate  judicious  and  safe  use  of  chemical pesticides as a last resort. In addition, these CIPMCs organizes Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) to sensitize farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. In addition, Package of practices for control of pests and diseases in 87 crops have been revised to include techniques to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and encourage use of bio-pesticides and other alternative plant protection measures. Timely advisories are being issued by the Ministry to the State  Government  disseminating,  inter  alia  management  strategies  to  prevent  pests  attack. Furthermore, the State Governments through various forums such as Zonal Conferences and National Conference are requested to exhort their extension functionaries to educate and impart training to farmers on efficacious and sustainable pest management strategies /approaches and to maintain constant surveillance.

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