CSA has pioneered the concept of Non Pesticidal Management which is now practiced by millions of farmers in Andhra Pradesh. The ecological and economical problems of pests and pesticides in agriculture gave rise to several eco-friendly innovative approaches which do not rely on the use of chemical pesticides. These initiatives involved rediscovering traditional practices and contemporary grass root innovations supplemented by strong scientific analysis mainly supported by non-formal institutions like NGOs. Such innovations have begun to play an important role in development sector. This trend has important implications both for policy and practice. One such initiative by Centre for Sustainable Agriculture was Non Pesticidal Management. The “Non Pesticidal Management” which emanates from collaborative work of public institutions, civil society organizations and Farmers in Andhra Pradesh shows how diverse players join hands to work in generating new knowledge and practice, can evolve more sustainable models of development. Pest is not a problem but a symptom. Disturbance in the ecological balance among different components of crop ecosystem makes certain insects reach pest status. From this perspective evolved the Non Pesticidal Management which is an “ecological approach to pest management using knowledge and skill based practices to prevent insects from reaching damaging stages and damaging proportions by making best use of local resources, natural processes and community action.”
CSA collaborated with Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) of government of Andhra Pradesh) between 2005-06 to 2007-08 to scaleup the NPM practices through a systematic Community Managed Extension System. The program is today independently run by SERP across the states of Andhra Pradesh (13 districts, 388 mandals and 8,799 villages) and Telangana (9 districts. 295 mandals and 5,421 villages)
The data shows that the pesticide use reduction between 2005-06 was more than 50% in AP which is highest compared to any other state with similar cropping systems and production practices (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana)
Pesticide use in India 2005-06 to 2009-10 | ||||||
S.No. | States/UTs | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
1 | Andhra Pradesh | 1997 | 1394 | 1541 | 1381 | 1015 |
2 | Gujarat | 2700 | 2670 | 2660 | 2650 | 2750 |
3 | Haryana | 4560 | 4600 | 4390 | 4288 | 4070 |
4 | Jammu & Kashmir | 1433 | 829 | 1248 | 2679.27 | 1640 |
5 | Karnataka | 1638 | 1362 | 1588 | 1675 | 1647 |
6 | Kerala | 571 | 545 | 780 | 272.69 | 631 |
7 | Madhya Pradesh | 787 | 957 | 696 | 663 | 645 |
8 | Maharashtra | 3198 | 3193 | 3050 | 2400 | 4639 |
9 | Orissa | 963 | 778 | N/A | 1155.75 | 1588 |
10 | Punjab | 5610 | 5975 | 6080 | 5760 | 5810 |
11 | Rajasthan | 1008 | 3567 | 3804 | 3333 | 3527 |
12 | Tamil Nadu | 2211 | 3940 | 2048 | 2317 | 2335 |
13 | Uttar Pradesh | 6671 | 7414 | 7332 | 8968 | 9563 |
14 | West Bengal | 4250 | 3830 | 3945 | 4100 | NA |
Total in India (in round fig.) | 39773 | 41515 | 43630 | 43860 | 41822 |
Source: Agricensus 2005 http://ppqs.gov.in/IpmPesticides.htm
The latest data can be seen here http://ppqs.gov.in/sites/default/files/statewise_consumption_chemical.pdf
Several National and International studies have shown the impacts of the NPM on farmers livelihoods and environment.
Attachments
- Out of Trap: Cover Story on Down to Earth, 31st May, 2006
- Detoxyfying Villages, Jayati Gosh, Oct 23, 2004, Frontline
- Riding High: Cover Story on Down to Earth, 1st January, 2009
- Non Pesticidal Management Learning from Experiences
- Ecologically Sound Economically Viable- Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture in Andhra Pradesh, World Bank
- Evaluation of NPM in CMSA program by Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University
- UN Stock Home Conference Report on Alternatives to Endosulfan
- Does No Pesticides Reduce Suicides Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry
- INDIA’S POTENTIAL BEST PRACTICES FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY, Report by USDA
- Non-Pesticidal Management of Pests: Status, Issues and Prospects – A Review by Centre for Economics and Social Studies, Hyderabad