Performance of ipm techniques on pesticide use and yield of vegetables

Abstract

Background: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach for plant protection that was de­signed to reduce the need of chemical control. It is a complex, knowledge-based technology that combines biological, cultural and chemical control methods to keep pests below economically acceptable level. This study was done to assess the impact of IPM technology on pesticides use and yield of vegetable crops. Methods: A total of five hundred vegetable grower farmers from Banke and Surkhet districts of Lumbini and Karnali provinces, respectively, were purposively selected as the study area. These districts are the major vegetable growing areas in Nepal. Yield function was developed in estimating the functional relationship. Pesticide input was used as independent variable to know the effect of pesticide on vegetable yield. To detect the impact of IPM-technology on vegetable yield linear regression was used in this study. Result: IPM practicing farmers were significantly younger and more educated than control farmers. Pesticides and bio-pesticides were the major inputs used for controlling pests and diseases. Based on the sign and coefficient of the IPM (practice) variable, it has been concluded that use of IPM has positive and significant effect on the net revenue from the vegetables.