Biopesticides: Present Status and the Future Prospects

Abstract

Agriculture is adversely affected by numerous pests like bacteria, fungi, weeds and insects, leading to reduced yield and poor quality of the produce [1]. Since 1960s, the most common method for pest control has been the intensive use of synthetic pesticides. Such pesticide was adopted in 1940s with the use of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), followed by other organophosphate and carbamate pesticides [2]. Thereafter, Green Revolution technology of crop production could increase food production in developing countries through the intensive use of inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides etc. Albeit, the use of the agrochemicals helped a lot in increasing agricultural productivity; they have caused adverse effects on soil health, water quality, produce quality and developed problems like insect resistance, genetic variation in plants, toxic residues food and feed. Moreover dependence on chemical pesticides and their indiscriminate use caused several detrimental effects on the environment. Recognizing the ill effects of the agrochemicals such as pesticide resistance, pest resurgence, outbreak of secondary pests, pesticide residues in the produce, soil, air and water [3], it has become important now to develop alternatives of these synthetic agro-inputs. The need of the day is to produce maximum from the diminishing natural resources and protect the produce from post-harvest loses without adversely affecting the environment. Use of biofertilizers and biopesticides can play major role in dealing with these challenges in a sustainable manner.