Implementation of integrated pest management in pigeonpea and chickpea pests in major pulse-growing areas of Maharashtra

Abstract

In the pigeonpea- and chickpea-growing areas of Marathawada region of Maharashtra, significant yield losses have been reported in both crops due to incidences of pests especially Helicoverpa. Conventional pest management technology has achieved limited success due to pest management constraints, including development of resistance by Helicoverpa against major insecticides. Under the scenario, demonstration combined with validation of IPM strategies were implemented from 2010-2013, using a participatory training approach in four districts of Maharashtra.We evaluated the extent of crop damage by insects and diseases in the selected districts and compared the yield under IPM and non-IPM (conventional) fields. The novelty of ours study is the use of new-generation pesticides and use of information and communication technology in the form of short message service (SMS) to guide the farmers on their timely use. The new-generation molecules were quite effective against pod borer (Helicoverpa) without any adverse effect on beneficial insects and consequently resulted in higher yields. The study demonstrated that this IPM approach comprising the use of new-generation pesticides and SMS has significant potential to increase crop yield with less pesticides and reduce production cost in the region.