Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-
term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as bio-
logical control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant
varieties. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to
established guidelines, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target
organism. Pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks
to human health, beneficial and non-target organisms, and the environment. (Flint
2012
).
The recurring theme of more recent IPM definitions is minimising the use of pes-
ticides in crop protection. However IPM does not advocate the non-use of pesti-
cides but that their use needs to be fully justified. With the increased understanding
and availability of alternative strategies the need to use pesticides has declined.
However the perception that all and any pesticides are dangerous and should be
avoided is an oversimplification. There are numerous advantages and the benefits
from using pesticides, and these have been reviewed by Cooper and Dobson (
2007
).
Pesticides should be viewed as one of an array of tools available to the grower to
produce consistent, high yielding, good quality crops and that they should be used
judiciously to ensure safety for the operator, consumer and the environment as part
of an IPM programme.
An IPM programme in any crop involves five key steps, these being:
1. Anticipation and planning. Many pests and diseases can be anticipated based on
the grower's historical knowledge, the weather, the pest life cycle, the crop being
grown and the location. By planning and anticipating the optimum timing in the
use of control strategies maximum control at minimum cost can be achieved.
2. Correctly identification of the pest. This will ensure that the appropriate control
strategy or strategies are implemented.
3. Monitoring the pest and the damage. Ascertain if the problem is increasing or
decreasing.
4. Action thresholds. At what point does corrective action needed to be taken? At
what level is there potential economic damage to the crop that justifies control
inputs?
5. Implementing control measures. These can be biological, cultural, physical or
the use of a pesticide. However many control measures should be considered at
the planning stage as many of these controls are slow to act and may not be suit-
able or effective in a crisis crop protection strategy.
Case Study: Flowers from Kenya—A Threat to the
Environment?
Floriculture forms the main horticultural industry around Lake Naivasha in Kenya.
The production and export of flowers, mainly roses, is often proposed as a threat to
the environment. Three aspects of the environmental threat will be briefly consid-
ered, firstly the adoption of IPM, then the impact the floriculture industry has had
