Abstract

BIOPESTICIDES: AN ECOFRIENDLY APPROACH FOR PEST CONTROL

Srijita Dutta*

ABSTRACT

Bio-pesticides are ecofriendly pesticides which are obtained from naturally occurring substances (biochemicals), microbes and plants. Biopesticides fall into three major classes. The potential benefits to agriculture and public health programmes through the use of biopesticides are considerable. Not all natural products are biopesticides. Some are chemical pesticides if they act on nervous system of the pest. Through the use of biopesticides in a wider way, agriculture and health programmes can be beneficially affected. There are many disadvantages associated with the use of chemical pesticides like genetic variations in plant populations, reduction of beneficial species, damage to the environment or water bodies, poisoning of food and health problems such as cancer which makes biopesticides to come into picture. India has a vast potential for biopesticides. Some biopesticides currently being developed may be excellent alternatives to chemical pesticides. Biopesticides being target pest specific are presumed to be relatively safe to non-target organism including humans. However, in India, some of the biopesticides like BT, NPV, neem based pesticides, Trichoderma etc. have already been registered and are being practiced. Also in India, there are many locally available plants like beshram, neem, garlic, triphala, pinus kesia etc which can be easily processed and increase the biopesticide consumption in India. Through this review, I would like to highlight role of biopesticides in agriculture and potential biopesticide available in India.

Keywords: Biopesticides, poisoning, BT, NPV, trichoderma.