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Current affairs forms an important component of several competitive exams such as the UPSC Civil Services Examination, SSC CGL, Bank PO & PSU entrance tests, etc. Therefore, understanding terms/concepts/events that are in the news is critical for aspirants. We at PaGaLGuY bring you this series of articles in which we shall explain some of these important concepts/events for you.In this article we will be dealing with Ecological engineering and its benefits.

Pesticides are touted to be one of the best solutions to deal with pest attacks. Howover, for the past few years, Indian farmers have also had to deal with pests including insects, fungi, nematodes etc. that are resistant to such remedies. Result: crop failures and more use of chemical sprays to keep pests at bay.

Why is Ecological
engineering relevant?

Pest infestations have resulted in excessive crop losses in
not only India but across the world. China, the world’s largest producer of
rice, loses thousands of tons of the crop yield due to pests especially
Planthopper. Crop failure causes price rise and usage of chemical pesticides
poses severe threats to human health and soil quality. Though pests cannot be
wiped off totally, biointensive methods like ecological engineering can reduce
their attacks.

Role of NIPHM

The concept promoted by Hyderabad-based National Institute
of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), has proved to be an effective organic
method to reduce pest infestations. It focuses on application of ecological
know-how instead of wholly relying on technology-driven solutions. This
includes, attracting natural enemies/predators of pests by growing plants and
cash crops, increased use of organic fertilizers, growing leguminous plants to
nitrogenise soil etc.

NIPHM along with the Directorate of Plant Protection
Quarantine and Storage, Haryana has carried out efforts to take this concept to
farmers across India through on-field training, workshops etc. It has published
in-depth reports on use of ecological engineering for crops like castor,
cardamom etc. They advocate Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA) based Integrated
Pest Management (IPM) along with ecological engineering.

Pros and Cons

In May this year, this technique was introduced to rice
farmers in Erode district, Tamil Nadu by NIPHM experts. Farmers reported that
pest population halved after adopting this approach and increased predation of
pests by natural enemies like ladybird beetles, lacewing flies, spiders etc.
They also asserted that input costs have reduced immensely thanks to less or no
application of chemical pesticides.

Natural attractants i.e. compatible crops grown around the
field attract natural enemies of pests. For example: carrot, maize, variety of
beans, mustard etc. Natural repellents are plants that repel pests. For
example: peppermint. These secondary crops are additional sources of income for
farmers.

The disadvantage is that the success of this technique
relies on frequent monitoring of crops, disease symptoms and pest activities,
thereby relying on farmers’ decision making and expertise. Though
cost-effective, it can be time-consuming.

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