M.N. Kutty, former FAO and United Nations (U.N.) expert on aquaculture, has called for integrated pest management (IPM) to overcome the threat posed to biodiversity and the ecosystem by the use of toxic pests.
Talking to The Hindu here on Friday on the use of toxic pesticides in mango orchards at Muthalamada and agriculture farms in Palakkad, Dr. Kutty said “there is urgent need for harmless biological weapons to combat farm pests because when toxic chemicals are used, it not only affects the target pests like insects and mites but non-target animals too, including human beings, directly and indirectly.”
“The death of a calf allegedly caused due to consumption of water contaminated with pesticides that were used to control insect pests in flowering mango trees in Muthalamada and the death of butterflies caused by exposure to pesticides-contaminated atmosphere in the Nelliampathy Hills have rightly stirred the attention of environmentalists and the media,” he said.
“We should avoid all chemical pesticides and go in for biological control of pests. But, this needs dedicated and time-consuming research to locate biological-control organism and standardise methodologies.” Relying on total biological regulation of pest attacks should be one of the ultimate objectives of eliminating harmful chemical pesticides.
The harmful effects of indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides can be avoided by going in for IPM, a component of holistic agriculture or organic farming, he said.
Asked about the immediate method to be employed by farmers to save their crops from pest attacks, Dr. Kutty said “as long as such environmentally-healthy and fool-proof methods are not available, we may have to adopt the best available management technology; less harmful chemicals can be used, restricting application on the affected organism and reducing the area and time of exposure through integrated pest management.”
This is in consideration of not only protecting the target crop, but also other crops — plant, animal, bird, fish — in the watershed ecosystem. It stems from indeed a wider understanding of a highly complex system through study of the different components of the total system individually and also in concert and evolving methodologies, which could lead to an optimal socio-economically and environmentally sustained production from the eco-system.”
On the demand to ban harmful chemical pesticides in the State, Dr. Kutty said some very strong measures against its use have to be taken in Kerala and also in the entire country.
Fear and anxiety
Surely, there will be some fears and anxiety that the move might cause some dents in the highly sensitive agri-food production system, but anticipated losses would be minuscule when compared to the human tragedy and not so visible degradation of our environment and losses of our tropical eco-system, especially their biodiversity.
He said the perils of toxic pesticides use has been recognised by more countries and India should fall in line with the global verdict soon and save our environment, lives and unique tropical ecosystem and biodiversity.
