Yubak Dhoj G.C. and Mandira Katuwal

Plant Protection Directorate,
DAO, Bhaktapur

Abstract

In an attempt to document the status on Organic Pest Management (OPM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Nepal, a study was conducted by gleaning the available literatures and contacts with the people and organizations involved in these areas. The study showed that there are considerable numbers of individuals and households, who are demanding either organic products or Products used with less chemical pesticides. The fraction for demanding Organic Pest management is more than 29% where about 2% farmers are using organic products indicating the large gaps between the demand and supply. In Nepal, IPM was evolved in 90s with an aim to combat the negative effects of chemical pesticides, which could also be an entry point to the OPM although most of the past activities were concentrated with much emphasis on capacity building to the farmers and technicians. Negligible fraction (about 2-3 %) of farming communities, are found adopting this approach, however, the demand for this is overwhelmingly large exceeding more than 60%. Despite of the interest showed by the large number of producers and consumers, the sluggish paces in adopting these novel approaches are due to inadequate polices for appropriate support, alternatives to chemical pesticides, support activities such as inputs, irrigation and marketing facilities, premium prices to agricultural products, appropriate technology compatible to the farming etc. At the same time, there is growing awareness among the producers and consumers for safer and healthier produce; however, the present agricultural production system has given its thrust for meeting the food requirement for ever accelerating population. Ever since of the introduction of chemical pesticides as vector control tools in Nepal, they remained one of the dominant means of crop pest control and still there is a long hangover among the producers that they are highly regarded as magic solutions to cure pest and disease problem. However, at the
same time, there are large proportions of the growers and consumers for their preference for having chemical free or less pesticide used agricultural products. The associated hazards due to chemical compounds were also documented and most of them are related to lack of awareness ignorant among the producers as well as consumers, lack of alternative tools to IPM and OPM, price discrimination system between organic and pesticide used products are found as dominant factors. Current status of organic pest control as well as IPM with respect to their interfaces in Nepal is documented.