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Integrated Pest Management Farming in Bangladesh: Present Scenario and Future Prospect

Muhammad Humayun Kabir*
Department of Agricultural Extension and Information System, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ruslan Rainis
Department of Geography, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Under the broad policy of sustainable agricultural development, the government of Bangladesh with alliance of Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has been trying to implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) farming since 1981. Based on secondary data, this study first analyzes the present context of IPM farming followed by the developmental perspective of this environment friendly agriculture. The findings reveal that in spite of having continuous efforts from several governments, non-government and international organizations and agencies, adoption and extent of IPM are increasing slowly. Furthermore, the distribution of IPM farmers in various regions is not balanced. Conversely, though desired progress has not been achieved, but profitability of IPM over conventional farming in social, economic and environmental aspect, predict a fair probability to set up IPM farming in the future. In order to improve present scenario as well as to fulfill the prediction regarding promotion of IPM farming, way are suggested.

Keywords: IPM farming; present context; Developmental perspective; Conventional agriculture; Sustainable agriculture

Location:

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Pest Management

Commodity: IPM

Objectives:

(i) to increase food production by keeping soil, environment and health safe and sound, (ii) pests are an important threat to crop production which continue to cause serious damages and (iii) to control pest, farmers use toxic pesticides and that such continued heavy reliance on chemicals would lead to several negative impacts on soil, health and environment; there is a need for an alternative method rather than to rely exclusively on pesticides.

Methodology:

Methods and data: This study employs the longitudinal methods of IPM farming in the context of evolution, present and future. In this regard, to assess current achievement, from the introduction of this sustainable program to present context has been critically analyzed especially in organizational aspect. Attempt has also been taken to predict the future prospect of IPM farming through a profitability analysis with conventional farming in social, economic and environmental aspect. The output of the assessment could contribute to formulating policies in promotion of IPM farming. This study is primarily based on secondary information available from various sources like books related to integrated pest management, journal, thesis, proceedings and periodicals. Furthermore, few informal discussions were held with experts in crop science, agricultural extension and environmental scientist to get proper direction of the study. In addition to this, various reports like government statistics report (BBS, 2011), national IPM policy report (MoA, 2002), country report (IPM, 2002), and World Bank report (ARD, 2003) were assisted to fulfill the purpose of the study in an effective and meaningful way. The evolution of IPM in Bangladesh In globally, the seeds of the IPM movement were planted during the first half of the twentieth century. However, in the 1960s, the Californian entomologists detected early signs of the catastrophic results from over reliance of insecticide and developed an integrated management to combat pest. In this consequence, in the early of 1970s the modern concept of IPM was born (Kogan, 1998; Ehler, 2006; Prokopyand Kogan, 2003). Following the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 to next three years, the government provided pesticides to the farmers at a 100 % subsidy. As a result farmers were totally dependent on chemical pesticides to combat insect and pest. Thereafter, in order to decrease the dependency on pesticides, the subsidy reduced to 50 percent in 1974 and withdrew completely in 1979. Although pesticides usage initially declined after this policy taken, their use has been on the increase again on the following year (MoA, 2002). This trend was a matter of be anxious. This is because, though pesticide use is needed to minimize losses due to pest infestation, but its heavy use leads the pests to be resistant and emerge as new pests. Without judge, to solely rely on pesticide is a threat for sustainable agricultural development (Kabir, et al., 2010). From this realization, in 1981 the government of Bangladesh, started IPM activities with the introduction of the first phase of FAO.s inter-country program (ICP) on IPM. Later, it was in 1987 that IPM activities move to expand seriously and became a popular topic to all types of people who are directly or indirectly involved with farming activities. From 1989 to 1995, the ICP played more significant role for the promotion of IPM concept and approach among the government officials and donor community (MoA, 2002). Current organizational involvement and achievement in IPM activities From the beginning to present, besides government organization’s several non-government organizations, development banks, bilateral and international agencies are involved for establishing IPM practices throughout the country. Research organizations like Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) is responsible for technology dissemination in a small scale; however, the major liable is for Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) the largest public agro-based organization in Bangladesh. The plant protection wing of DAE directly deals IPM activities. There are some other semi-government organizations, such as Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), and the Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) that is engaged in transfer of IPM technologies to the farmers.

Source of Information: Journal of Agricultural Technology 2013 Vol. 9(3): 515-547

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Despite efforts being made from different organizations for promotion of IPM, adoption and extent of this sustainable farming is increasing slowly. After thirty-one years have passed of its introduction, still conventional farming is largely intact. Moreover, not only the number of IPM farmers is less than conventional but also the distribution is not balanced throughout the country. To improve the present scenario, the government should establish national IPM program to coordinate IPM activities among the country, and give equal emphasis to all districts for balancing expansion of IPM farming. Beside this, not only continuation but also project with larger scale on IPM should be introduced and implemented by the development banks, bilateral and donor agencies. Additionally, DAE and NGOs should create more training facilities to cover all categories of farmers especially the small and medium farmers, who are the majority in number (57 % of total farmers) but have low risk bearing capability. Another significant issue is IPM farming is more profitable than conventional farming in social, economic and environmental aspect. Relative advantage is an important criterion of technology adoption. Since IPM farming is more profitable than conventional farming, the farmers will be interested to acknowledge this program. Sometimes farmers are reluctant to adopt any new technology if the production is low. In this context, the DAE and NGOs should come forward to remove this confusion and make IPM financially attractive.

Knowledge Management: Journal