Jointness in farmers' decision to apply pesticides in multiple crops and its determinants at the farm level in Bangladesh

Decision about pesticide application for pest control is an issue of major concern, but research on factors affecting decision-making is limited. This study investigates jointness in farmers' decision to apply pesticides in multiple crops and socio-economic determinants of pesticide use across crops using a survey of 2083 farms from 17 districts in Bangladesh applying a multivariate Tobit model. Overall, 75.4% and 12.7% of the farmers applied pesticides in one and two crops, respectively. The decision to apply pesticides in multiple crops was found to be negatively correlated, providing evidence of jointness. Also, individual socio-economic factors exerted variable influences on pesticide use in different crops. Output price significantly increases pesticide use whereas the influence of fertilizer price and labour wage is varied. Educated farmers use significantly more pesticides in rice and oilseed. Marginal and small farmers use significantly less pesticides in wheat/maize and pulse. Policy implications include price policies to reduce fertilizer prices and engaging agricultural extension agencies and non-governmental organizations to disseminate information on specific crop combinations which will synergistically reduce pesticide use.     

Application of pathogen surveys,disease nurseries and varietal resistance characteristics in an IPM approach for the control of wheat yellow rust

The present paper presents the rationale for the use of pathogen surveys, inoculated and non-inoculated disease nurseries and varietal resistance characteristics in an integrated approach to control wheat yellow rust in Denmark. The non-inoculated disease observation plots, which gave valuable information about yellow rust at the year, site and variety level, served as the primary sample source for the pathogen survey revealing pathogen virulence dynamics. This survey was also the main source for isolates of new pathotypes, a prerequisite for the assessment of the resistance characteristics of varieties and breeding lines in inoculated nurseries, and the postulation of race-specific resistance genes. A simple grouping of varieties into four categories with respect to resistance to the current yellow rust population proved robust, and this grouping was used as a determinant in a web-based decision support system for pesticide applications in cereals, Crop Protection On-line (CPO). The interplay between the different research and survey activities in the integrated pest management (IPM) approach demonstrated the need for a coherent and long-term involvement at all stages from plant breeding to the official variety approval system, extension service and research in disease epidemiology and resistance genetics.     

Direct and indirect impacts of integrated pest management on pesticide use: a case of rice agriculture in Java, Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Integrated pest management (IPM) technology has been disseminated since 1989 in Indonesia to cut down pesticide use, but the adoption and diffusion of the technology are still debated. This study aims to estimate the models of demand for pesticides and to analyse the impact of IPM technology on pesticide use. Aggregate cross-section time series data from 1990-1998 are used.RESULTS: The results show that IPM technology reduces the use of pesticides by improving the process of rice production, such that pesticides are more efficiently used. In this case, the IPM technology is not a pest control technique.CONCLUSION There is an indication that IPM technology has been adopted by farmers. This is evidence that the IPM programme in Indonesia was successful in this area. Copyright (c) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.     

The use of a computer-based decision support system to evaluate new parameters in crop protection research1

In Denmark, a computer-based decision support system for control of pests in cereals has been developed. This ‘DSS-CP’ has been tested and validated in field trials for 3 years and has been evaluated by farmers and agricultural advisers. In addition to this use, DSS-CP has proved to be of additional use in the other fields of crop production research. It has been used as a decision maker in situations where standardized decisions have to be made without the bias of technicians. The system has been used to evaluate new parameters in plant protection research related to the decision process, e.g. to quantify variations in treatment needs of barley cultivars, and as a tool to calculate indicators for annual treatment needs in relation to pesticide consumption and annual variations.     

给农业插上科技的翅膀：植保无人机低容量喷雾技术助力农药减施增效

十三五期间以植保无人机低容量施药技术为代表的现代航空植保产业发展迅速。科研协作研究与大量田间试验示范表明,采用植保无人机施药技术能够提高靶标作物上药液沉积量并减少农药流失,实现精准减量施药;同时能够解决地面机具无法作业时的病虫害防治问题。航空植保技术实现了人机分离作业,避免了农药中毒,降低了劳动强度,极大地提高了作业效率,达到减少农药使用量、提高农药利用率的目的。以水稻为对象,综述植保无人机在农药减量、水稻病虫害防效、技术简易性、农药利用率提升、水稻增产以及成本效益提升等发面发挥的作用。航空植保产业的迅速发展加快了植保无人机智能精准控制系统质量的提升和新技术的研发步伐,且植保无人机的普及性提出了飞防药剂、助剂和施药飘移风险控制技术研发的迫切需求,基于此进一步梳理总结了植保无人机低容量喷雾技术在农药减施增效中的作用和未来发展方向。     

Implementation of integrated pest management in Israel

Supervised control programs were initiated by the Extension Service in the deciduous orchards of Upper Galilee and the Golan almost 20 years ago. The integrated pest management (IPM) project on fruit crops and vines, launched as a systematic state-wide program in 1991, covered 23% of the total acreage at the end of 1996. The program has reached a critical mass and generates a steady demand for this new kind of advisory service. The project has set the right pattern for intensive and continuous collaboration among research, extension and grower. The program has been successful in reaching out to growers with the help of a newly formed group of local and regional pest scouts; the field-level implementation is the responsibility of the extension system. A reduction of approximately 30% in the use of pesticides has been achieved. The project prepares the ground for environment-friendly and sustainable cropping systems, generating produce competitive on both the local as well as foreign markets. The program on indoor vegetables, flowers, herbs and spices initiated in 1992, had to address first the problem of the sweetpotato whitefly. The field program methodology relies on the establishment of model farms and plots. The model plots are used to examine supervised control scenarios which could, in turn, be diffused to all growers. A 30-50% reduction in the use of pesticides was achieved on the model farms. The program represents an integration of supervised control, fully fledged IPM, and biological control practices. The program on corn and cotton covers the entire acreage under these two crops. The cotton program is supported by an integrated resistance management component. Three area-wide pest management programs were initiated: in the Arava and Bet She’ an valleys, and in the Golan.     

Plant Protection and Production in Modern Society1

Many currently existing agricultural production techniques have been developed in total reliance on effective chemical pest control. Today, however, it is becoming clear that chemical pest control has a number of limitations, and its ever increasing costs may well make it a limiting factor in agricultural production. This has already occurred in a number of cotton growing areas. The need for increased world food production will require improved pest control methods. If no special precautions are taken, we will undoubtedly end up in many other crops with a situation similar to that of cotton. In view of the reduced availability of new pesticides, those currently available should be used in the optimal way. At the present time, the integrated pest control approach is the best means of accomplishing this. The introduction of such programs will require official support through legislation or technical assistance. In the future, various new developments in pest control are to be expected. Greater reliance will be placed on the use of computer science. Further effort will be needed in areas such as crop loss assessment, stored product pests, technical assistance to farmers and pesticide selectivity. Closer international collaboration on plant quarantine matters and pesticide registration are essential for the future of pest control.     

韭菜迟眼蕈蚊研究进展

韭菜迟眼蕈蚊是葱韭蒜类蔬菜重要的地下害虫,尤喜食韭菜,其幼虫俗称韭蛆。因该虫发生量大且为害严重,近几年有些菜农大量使用化学农药,造成韭菜农药残留超标,"毒韭菜"事件频发,已引起社会各界的广泛关注。有关韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的研究主要集中在生物学特性和防治方法两方面,如生活习性、发生规律、化学杀虫剂室内毒力测定和田间药效比较、筛选等。有关组织学、解剖学、生理学的研究甚少,而分子生物学方面的研究尚未见报道。本文对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的研究成果进行了综述,分析了当前防治方法存在的问题,为今后的研究和防治提供新的思路。     

农药雾滴雾化沉积飘失研究进展

农药、植保机械与施药技术为植物化学保护的三大支柱,其中施药技术是连接农药学科和植保机械学科的关键环节,是农药从研发到田间应用的“最后一公里”。农药科学使用并不是一个简单的选择农药和施药量的药物学问题,而是涉及作物学、植物保护学、农业工程学、气象学等多学科交叉的系统工程。本文就农药雾滴雾化与运动特性、沉积与分布状态、流失与飘失行为,以及害虫行为与农药雾滴雾化运动和沉积分布关系等方面的研究进展展开综述,总结该方面的理论与实践经验,可为提高植保机械水平与施药质量、提高农药利用率与防治效果、减轻农药负面影响、提高粮食与食品安全提供参考。     

International plant protection; the role of FAO

Plant protection has many international aspects; it is also quickly changing, especially in relation to sustainability. FAO’s activities in plant protection are grouped in four major thrusts: plant quarantine, pesticide management, integrated pest management and migratory pest control. The International Plant Protection Convention defines the FAO’s activities in plant quarantine, while, in response to the GATT Uruguay Round, harmonization of plant quarantine is also being undertaken. Pesticide management activities address the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides and standard setting on pesticide residues. Integrated Pest Management is the core of the plant protection programme, together with international coordination of migratory pest control. All these activities are complemented by technical assistance programmes, including assistance with the establishment of plant protection services.FAO’s activities remain a compromise between what member countries see as desirable and what is affordable. Long term commitment is required to achieve result. New functions in quarantine and pesticide management have been taken up, but the international assessment of pesticides needs urgent attention. The paradigm change away from pesticide use will require further international cooperation. Substantial research and a new control system is needed for locust control.     

A philospohy of pest control —A biological approach to new pesticide developments

The influences on pest control that are external to the pesticide industry are discussed first. The complexity of the interrelationship between the five main parties to the pesticide controversy (the farmer, the public, the pesticide manufacturer, wild life interests and the government) explains in some measure the intensity of the controveersy itself. It is to be hoped that with increasing knowledge all parties will be able to move together along an agreed, optimum course.The responses within pest control in general, and the pesticide industry in particular, to these external influences are then discussed. Existing pest control practices largely utilise control at the level of the individual. Much current research relates to population control procedures. The pesticide industry is concerned with innovations relating to the mode of action of conventional insecticides as well as to new ways of using chemicals to control insect populations. It is suggested the long term success of population control procedures depends as much on the provision of appropriate organisasuccess of population control procedures depends as much on the provision of appropriate organisational requirements as on solving the technical problems.Finally, the likely future couse of pest control is considered. It is suggested that over the next 10 years or more the major burden of pest control will continue to fall on the pesticide industry much as at present. The first innovations, over the period 5–15 years hence, are likely to concern conventional pesticides with novel modes of action. Population control procedures will gradually become established and this process will accelerate over the period 10–20 years hence and beyond. However, full benefit from such procedures will only accrue if organisatonal requirements have been met.     

农作物病虫害防治农药速查系统构建与应用

为了让农户能够直观了解及掌握常见病虫害的防治信息,帮助农户通过智能手机在农田、果园和茶园等现场方便快捷地获取作物病虫害图文识别要点与科学防治方法,为农户提供在线植保技术服务,本研究采用RESTful Web 服务架构设计,运用HTML5移动Web开发技术,借助微信平台作为用户访问入口,开发了一款跨平台 (android/iOS) 的农药速查软件系统,实现了农药信息查询、病虫害图谱查询及后台数据管理等功能。通过建立农药与病虫害间的关联关系,实现了从农药名称和病虫害名称两个途径查询农药信息;所构建的数据库涵盖了蔬菜、果树、水稻、茶叶及烟草等共30种福建省常规种植作物上的重要病虫害农药防治技术。初步运用验证结果表明,该系统整体实用性和稳定性较好,适合在农村基层推广应用。基于微信平台的农药速查系统能够满足植保新技术普及和应用的需求,可为农户提供简单便捷、对症下药的在线植保科技服务,对提高用户安全施药和科学防控能力、推进农药的增效减量均具有重要意义。     

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of accidental insect pest introduction into Switzerland and its implications for plant protection1

The purpose of this study is to assess the characteristics of accidental introduction of pest organisms into Switzerland by means of international plant trade, and to discuss its consequences for the development of plant protection strategies. We found substantial levels of infestation in samples of all producing countries included in the study. Since the use of synthetic pesticides is the main basis of pest control in the ornamental industry, the results of this study indicate that chemical pest control has reached a limit above which no further reduction of pest population levels is possible. The increased pesticide tolerance of many arthropod pests is mainly due to increased levels of resistance to pesticides caused by their excessive use. Therefore, alternative methods supplementing pesticide use are required to develop an optimal pest management strategy for the future. It is proposed that, in the Swiss ornamental production industry, pest monitoring should be the first step in this direction.     

蔬菜安全生产过程中农药污染危害与控制途径分析

蔬菜产品从"田间到餐桌"需要经过一个较长的链条,其中蔬菜的生产在这个链条中占有重要地位。蔬菜安全生产是社会和谐发展的客观要求,是经济效益持续稳定的根本保障,生态健康也对蔬菜安全生产中农药的科学使用提出了更高要求。蔬菜生产过程中的污染包括产地环境污染和农业投入品污染,其中又以作为重要的农业投入品的农药引起的污染为主。农药是蔬菜安全生产中减少病虫草等危害损失、保障蔬菜产量的重要核心因素,但如果农药使用不科学就会污染环境、破坏生态平衡、造成蔬菜产品农药残留超标、作物药害或导致人们中毒,直接危害人类健康。国外为推行农产品质量安全从"田间到餐桌"全过程控制,随之相继出现了如良好农业规范(GAP)、良好生产规范(GMP)、危害分析和关键点控制体系(HACCP)等生产管理和控制体系。我国对农药污染控制技术手段比较薄弱,为缓解我国蔬菜生产、病虫害防治和农药污染之间的矛盾,必须对农药的使用进行全程调控。     

Determinants of farmers’ decisions on pesticide use in oriental tobacco: a survey of common practices

Information about pesticide use and perceptions of their risks among farmers is important for identifying problems associated with pest-control decisions and developing appropriate management practices in given crops. In tobacco, a plant sensitive to many pests and diseases, such information is lacking. The patterns of pesticide use in oriental tobacco, as well as the most important factors for farmers’ decisions relating to chemical pest control were studied among randomly selected farmers in northern Greece on the basis of self-reported information acquired through a pre-tested questionnaire. High reliance of farmers on pesticides and field use of all well-known classes of chemical pesticides were reported. While all the active ingredients reported were registered for pest control in tobacco, they differed considerably in terms of toxicity. A normal cropping season received at least 14–16 pesticide applications for soil disinfection, pest control, and weed control. Most farmers stated that they usually spray chemicals on a calendar basis or on the first appearance of a pest. Efficacy on target pests and market price of the pesticide products to be used were the most important criteria for selection of pesticides, i.e. products that are considered to be highly effective and/or that are cheap are more likely to be selected. Better-educated and more experienced farmers were found to pay more attention to environmental safety and pesticide toxicity. Most farmers felt that pesticide use can reduce crop damage by more than 75%, assuring high yields. Main determinants of pesticide use were primarily the fear of severe yield and economic losses and the doubts about the effectiveness and the correct implementation of alternative pest-control methods. Pesticide use could be reduced by exposing farmers to improved pest-control practices such as site-specific integrated pest management.     

A review of pesticide policies and regulations for urban amenity areas in seven European countries

An analysis of the regulations of herbicide use for weed control in non-agricultural/urban amenity areas, including actual pesticide use, was carried out as a joint survey of seven European countries: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom. Herbicides constitute the major part of the pesticides used in urban amenity areas. Herbicide use on hard surfaces is the largest in terms of volume and potential contamination of surface and groundwater. The aim of the study was to investigate the differences in political interest and public debate on the 'use of pesticides in public urban amenity areas', regulations within each country at national, regional and local levels, possible use of alternative weed control methods and the amounts of pesticides used on urban amenity areas. A comparative analysis revealed major differences in political interest, regulations and availability of statistics on pesticide use. Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany have, or have had, a strong public and political interest for reducing the use of herbicides to control weeds in urban amenity areas and also have very strict regulations. The UK is currently undergoing a period of increasing awareness and strengthening regulation, while Latvia and Finland do not have specific regulations for weed control in urban amenity areas or on hard surfaces. Statistics on pesticide/herbicide use on urban amenity areas were only available in Denmark and the Netherlands. Developing this kind of information base reveals the differences in herbicide use, regulations and policies in European countries and may enhance the transfer of knowledge on sustainable weed control across countries.     

New trends in orchard spraying1

Since the early part of the century, a steady move in England towards lower volume spraying of orchards has coincided with the progressive introduction of improved spraying techniques. In recent years many growers have adopted very low volume (VLV) spraying (50 litre ha^-1) using spinning-disc nozzles with greatly reduced dose rates, often only 25% of the product label recommendation. On well managed farms, this method of spraying has been successful for several years and considerable savings have been made in pesticide use and labour for spraying. On other farms there have been pest and disease control problems but few growers have reverted to spraying at conventional volume or pesticide rates. Trials evidence from the UK and the Netherlands shows the VLV reduced dose-rate spraying technique to be generally less effective than conventional spraying but usually sufficiently effective for commercial purposes. In the Netherlands a compromise method of low volume spraying (150–200 litre ha^-1) is being adopted on the recommendation of research and advisory services. This method of spraying is gaining popularity in England. Unfortunately, the method of application stipulated on product labels is usually restricted to a minimum water volume and a pesticide dose per ha. It might be desirable for experimental work for registration purposes to be done to explore optimum application methods for individual pesticides. This information on labels, in a simple form, might lead to the more efficient use of pesticides as well as reflecting the range of application methods in use in the industry.     

An evaluation of the crop-physiological and epidemiological information in EPIPRE

EPIPRE is an integrated pest and disease management system for wheat based on on-line calculations of costs and benefits of pesticide treatments. It is field-specific and utilizes disease and pest incidences which are collected by the participating farmers. Incidences are transformed to severities through pest-specific relations with which a prediction of the epidemic is made according to an exponential development model. Integration of the epidemic over time, with multiplication by a pest-specific damage factor, delivers the expected damage till the end of the season, expressed as a fraction of the expected yield. Chemical control is only recommended when benefit of control exceeds total costs, including those for pesticide(s), labour, machinery and wheel-track damage. The current model needs improvement especially for the forecast of septoria blotch diseases, the field-specific quantification of the relative growth rates used and the damage relations of Puccinia striiformis and Mycosphaerella graminicola/Leptosphaeria nodorum. Also the cost-benefit analysis of the model can be improved, and it therefore, in the near future, needs contributions from research topics such as phytopathology, crop physiology, farm economics and information management. Using the model during the last 10 years has led to a reduced input of pesticides, which in its turn results in a lowering of production costs and a marked decrease in environmental pollution. Therefore future efforts to improve the model seem to be worthwhile.     

Ecological network analysis: an application to the evaluation of effects of pesticide use in an agricultural environment

Ecological network analysis is used to evaluate the impact of pesticide use on ecological systems in the context of agricultural farmland environments. The aim is to provide support for the design of effective and minimally damaging pest control strategies. The ecological network analysis can identify species that are important to the integrity of the ecological network. The methodology can be used to monitor the impact of shifts in terms of types of pesticide used on the ecological system. The authors' intention is to use this methodology to provide supporting evidence for the UK Voluntary Initiative programme aimed at convincing farmers voluntarily to make improved choices in the use of a wide range of pesticides.     

PC-Plant Protection: optimizing chemical weed control1

In Denmark, a political decision was taken to achieve, before 1997, a 50% reduction in the bulk of active ingredients in pesticides consumed, compared with average consumption in the period 1981/1985. To meet this requirement, a computer-based decision support system has been developed. In order to minimize doses, the system combines the concept of factor adjusted doses and expert knowledge. Herbicide doses are adjusted on the basis of the sensitivity of different weed species and their growth stages. Based on actual field observations, the system suggests suitable herbicides, the normal dose, the actual dose, prices per ha, etc. In future, doses will probably also be factor-adjusted according to climatic conditions, competitive ability of cereal cultivars and soil type. The need for control of individual weed species (thresholds) is based on expert knowledge. Ongoing long-term studies on seed production by weeds, competition studies etc. will hopefully help to establish more exact models for economic thresholds. After satisfactory validation through field trials, the system will be continuously updated with new findings in weed research. The system has been on the market in Denmark since spring 1991.