LET US NOT RELY ON CHEMICAL PESTICIDES IN AGRICULTURE

Hello again dear readers? Fellow ambassadors Hope you are all doing great in this August? It is very cool here in Rwanda, a moderate climate. Visit Rwanda one day a country of 1000 hills, you will feel the difference. So today I want to share how chemical pesticide is not real the real solution in Agriculture. Why did I chose Agriculture? A lot of biodiversity can be disturbed there in the process of cultivating; besides that is where we mostly get food all of us. I am a vegetarian anyway. 

Insect pests, diseases and weeds inflict enormous losses to the potential agricultural production. Anecdotal evidences also indicate rise in the losses, despite increasing use of chemical pesticides. At the same time, there is a rising public concern about the potential adverse effects of chemical pesticides on the human health, environment and biodiversity. These negative externalities, though, cannot be eliminated altogether; their intensity can be minimized through combination of different methods rather than relying solely on chemical pesticides. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has become an accepted approach for controlling effectively pests, diseases and weeds. This component covers historical development of pest management, principles and tools of IPM

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can be defined as an integrated system that in the context of the associated environment and the population dynamics of the pest species, utilizes all suitable techniques and methods in as compatible  manner as possible to maintain pest populations at levels below those causing economic injury (FAO, 1967). Methods for reducing pests must be economically sound and environmentally acceptable. In practice, IPM tends to reduce pesticide inputs in areas where they are commonly employed.

IPM – Is a system that maintains the population of any pest, or pests, at or below the level that causes damage or loss, and which minimizes adverse impacts on society and environment.

IPM is a multidisciplinary (e.g. entomology, plant pathology, weed science, etc.) effort.

This was just an over view, I needed to think that pesticides are not preferable to be used in Agriculture due to its negative consequences to the environment. Next I will tell you in deep the beautiful things you should know about IPM (Integrated Pest Management).