Bio-Pesticides and Chemical Bio-Pesticides and Chemical Pesticides - SynergyPesticides - Synergy

Agriculture - The Changing facets

• Past : Origin of Agriculture, Pesticides and Chemicalisation – A History

• Present : It has become customary out of necessity conceived through individual thoughts to talk about hazardous nature of chemical usage in agriculture and compare it with biologicals as if the later have no ill-effect – A view

• Future : It was therefore thought fit at this juncture when agriculture stands in the cross roads of chemicals and biologicals to talk about a synergy of both – A concept

The pattern of pesticides use in the India

Item % use in India

(4500 Cr.)% use worldUS $ 32 billion in 1997

Insecticides 60 43.6

Herbicides 16 29.6

Fungicides 19 20.6

Others (Biopesticides Biocontrol agents Botanicals

and other forms of ethnic products

2 (many details not available)

6.1

(Source : Agriculture today 2005 and Atwal, 1986 )

The pattern of insecticides use among various crops in India

Crop Pesticide share (%)

Cropped area share (%)

Cotton 52-55 5

Rice 17-18 24

Chillies/Vegetables/Fruits 13-14 3

Plantation crops 7-8 2

Pulses/Cereals/oil-seeds 2-3 58

Sugarcane 3-4 2

Others 3-4 6

(Source : Agriculture today 2005 and Atwal, 1986)

Pesticides - Some facts

• Are we using too much of pesticides ? - the answer is VERY BIG No!

• The per hectare consumption in India is meager. Only 570 gms per hectare against 2500 gm/hectare in USA , 3000 gms/Ha in Europe and 12,000 gm/Ha in Japan.

• Is the agricultural productivity is directly proportional with increased chemical usage .Again the answer is VERY BIG No!

• Then why such a hue and cry of using pesticide in India? Is it right to call so?

(Source : agriculture Today. Nov. 2005)

Pests / Disease Chemicals Biologicals

Market potential Ruling the market Nascent stage

Concept promotionLow risk

Already familiar in the market

High risk Still to be promoted for familiarizing the concept

Government attitude unchanged Encouraging through IPM programme

Farmers point of viewContinuing the existing

practices is easier

Looked at it as a plausible alternative –at least as a supplement if

not substitute

Public opinion(Consumers point of view)

Apparently unfavorable

People have become more health and environment

protection

Biggest supportEnd User : Farmers

viewEnd User : Consumers

view

Pesticides Vs Bio-Pesticides – Differing marketing Perceptions

Pests/Disease

Chemicals Biologicals Trade name

National International

Insect pests  Mites (Red spider mitePink mitePurple mite)

Dicofol Sulphur – 80% Quinolphos 25EC Dicofol

Neem NimbecidineNeemazolFortune Aza

Margosan OBioneem

 Paecilomyces fumosoroseus Priority

 

Lepidopteran pests (Cutworms and borer)Coleopteran pests (Grubs and Borers)

Quinolphos 25EC+Dichlorovos 76 EC Fenvalerate 20 EC

Neem Nimbecidine MargosanO Bioneem

Beauveria bassiana

Bio-Power Biotrol Osterinil Mycotrol WP

Sucking pestsWhiteflies, Thrips,

Endosulfan 35EC Quinolphos 25EC

Verticillium lecanii

Bio-Catch  Mycotal Vertalec Verticillium–50

Orthopteran pest(Locust and grasshoppers)

Quinolphos 25ECFenvalerate

Neem & Metarhizium anisopliae

Nimbecidine Bio-Magic

MetaquinoBioblast Biotrol

Disease 

Root rot and Root wilt caused by Fusarium, Rhizoctonia etc.

PropiconazoleDifenconazoleTebuconazole MancozebPohrate

Trichoderma viridie

Bio-Cure FTrisan;Trichoseal;TrichopelF-Stop

Pseudomonas fluorescence

Bio-Cure B Blight BanEcogen

Nutrient Management

Fertilizers NPK BiofertilizersN-fixers; P-solublizer

K-mobilizer

Symbion N & P  

Chemical pesticides and the equivalent Biological supplement

Locked horns : Agrochemicals Vs. Biologicals

Factors Agrochemicals Agri-biologicals

Cost effectiveness Cheap but increased spraying cost

Costlier but reduced number of applications

Persistence and residual effect

High Low, mostly Bio-degradable and self perpetuating

Knockdown effect Immediate Delayed

Handling and Bulkiness Easy but danger and Hazardous

Bulky : Carrier basedEasy : Liquid formulation

Pest resurgence More Less

Resistance More prone Less prone

Effect on Beneficial flora At times destruction of friendly pest

Less harmful on beneficial pests

Target specificity Mostly broad spectrum Mostly host specific

Waiting time Very high Almost nil

Nature of control Curative Preventive

Shelf life More Less

(Source : agriculture Today. Nov. 2005)

Fertilizers Vs Plant Health

• Exploitation of the natures’ store house later let to depletion of soil nutrients subsequently leading to chemicalisation

• However, the excessive impoundment of nitrogenous fertilizers may lead to increased pest infestation.

Alternate Natural Sources of Nutrients

•Organic manure ( Agricultural & Urban residue) •Biofertilizers•Vermicompost•Bio-Dynamic preparation•Animal waste

Bio-fertilizer Production in India (2000)

Source: Adapted by authors from FAI, 2001.

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

90000

MT

Demad potential (MT X10) Produciton capacity(MT) Actual production(MT)

Biofertilizer -Scope in India

8,18,730 MT

16,500 MT8,000 MT

Source: Abhay Phadke, 2001

During 1946 to 1965, 7.95 lakh MT of chemical fertilizer and 7341 MT of chemical pesticides were used to produce an increase in yield of 1.60% (per annum). Food grain production estimated between < 50Mllion MT to 90Milliion MT) 

During the years between 1967-1978, with an usage of 23.15 lakh MT of chemical fertilizers, ie. nearly 3 times that of earlier decades and usage of 47091 MT of pesticides, ie. nearly 7 fold that of the previous decade, has only resulted in the reduction of percentage of yield increase by 0.20% (per annum) and stood at 1.40%. Food grain production estimated at 129.6 Million MT) 

Indicates yield growth recorded between 1949-1965 is not maintainable during 1967-1978 even with increased chemicalization. Therefore, for sustainable agricultural one should focus on synergism of chemicals and biologicals

Pesticides, Fertilizers usage Vs. Production

Source :The Organic farming source aBook:88pp; http:/indiabudget.nic.in www.photius.com

Agricultural Yield vs. In-Puts

Source :The Organic farming source aBook:88pp; http:/indiabudget.nic.in www.photius.com

Fertilizer. Pesticides and cropped area Vs. Yeild increase

7.34

23.15

47.15

79.5

196.77

952.25

118.297

125

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1946 - 65 1967-78 1998-2001

0.8%

1.0%

1.2%

1.4%

1.6%

1.8%<90 MMT

129.6 MMT220 MMT•Increase in

chemical usage is not directly proportional to yield increase•The total area cultivation and irrigation improvement along with chemicals contributed to yield increase

1965 Chem.Cons.(F&P) = 87.0 MMT Food production = 90MMT2001 Chem.Cons.(F&P) = 1000 MMT Food Production = 220 MMT12 fold increase of CF consumption resulted in 2.5 fold increase of food production 2.5 Fold increase in food production = Fertilizer consumption | Increase in area

F P

F

F

P

P

All Figures in MMTAll Fig. In MMT

Consumption Pattern of Chemical Pesticide and Food Production in India

Source: Indian Chemical Statistics 2000-01 http://agricoop.nic.in/statatglance2003.htm

In tonnes

Risk with chemical pesticides –Agricultural and Consumer front

• Indiscriminate use let to the Three sad R’s : Resistance, Resurgence and Residues.

• Elimination of Natural enemies of pests• Upsetting the ecological balance• Environmental degradation/Pollution• Beyond the Economic: Farmer,Practices and

Identities• Enters food chain and lead to Bio-Accumulation

and Bio-Magnification

INTEGRATING BIOLOGICALS IN PEST MANAGEMENT

An integrated approach i.e. integrating chemicals with biologicals in the pest management is needed to reduce the crop losses due to pests and to make agriculture more sustainable

Botanical pesticides and biocontrol agents offer immense scope in the IPM

1. Biorational and creates Natural epizootics.

2. Inherently less harmful than conventional pesticides

3. Suppress, rather than eliminate, a pest population

4. Biopesticides are effective and often quickly biodegradable and Present no residue problems.

5. Mostly self perpetuating

The importance of Biopesticides in Agriculture

Is Bio-Pesticides are risk Free

• Biopesticides, particularly microbial biopesticides, have virtually all the health safety and environmental properties that one would desire in a pesticide

• The ecological fallacy and the individualistic fallacy needs to be studied in detail.

Microbial insecticides

• Microbial insecticides are come from naturally-occurring bacteria, fungi, viruses.

Biopesticides and their usesBiopesticide Type

Source Nature Nature Used against Crops benefited

Natural product

Plants –Neem Vitex Garlic

Biochemicals Antifeedant, Growth regulation, oviposition and mating. disruption

Insect pest Horticultural, plantation and plain crops  

Microbials Bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt) B.sphaericus, ,

Infection Insect pests

  Pseudomonas Antibiosis Disease

Virus Nuclear Polyhedrosis Viruses, GV,

Infection resulting in epizootics

Insect pest

Fungi Beauveria, Metarhizium, Paecilomyces, Nomuraea

Infection resulting in epizootics

Insect pests

  TrichodermaGliocladium

Antagonism and Antibiosis Fungal disease of plants

Protozoa Nosema, Thelohania, Vairimorpha

Epizootics Insect pests.

Pheromones

:

Pheromones Biochemicals Mating disruption, lure and kill, or insect monitoring strategies

Insect pest

Genes or Plant-pesticide :

Desired genes from a known source

Biochemicals Confer tolerance of herbicide application or resistance to attack by viruses or insects

Insect pest and disease

Mode of action of Entomopathogenic fungi

Entomopathogenic fungi -in Insect Control

Entomopathogenic fungi -in Insect Control

Tea Mites

Rice bugs

Helicoverpa Beauveria infected Helicoverpa

Paecilomyces infected tea mites

Metarhizium infected rice bugs

The Pests which are difficult to control by Pesticides can be controlled by Biopesticides

Mycoparasitism by a Trichoderma strain

on the plant pathogen (Pythium)

Antagonistic fungi for disease control

Biologicals - Safe to Predators and ParasitesBiologicals - Safe to Predators and Parasites

Biologicals

Market potential for Biopesticides - Current Status :International Status

For many years, from the late 1960s until the late 1980s, the market was static with sales of around $20-25 M. The market for biopesticides continues to grow, although in total it has reached a much lower level of consumption than anticipated 10 or 20 years ago.  By 1996-7 the market for biopesticides was $85-90 M and the projected estimated growth is around 10-15% per year ; it is also forecasted that if the present momentum is to continue by the end of 2008 a net market share of $200 - $250 M for biological could become a reality.  

Source : Agriculture today, Jan,2005

Biopesticides Market Estimates/Predictions by Multinationals

Biopesticides Market Estimates/Predictions

Company Year Biopesticides market size ($)

Sandoz 1994-5 <60m

Ecogen 1994-5 60m

Mycogen 1994-5 60m

Abbott 1994-5 >60m

BMP 1994-5 70m

Novartis 1997 194m

BASF indefinite 2% (500m ) to <5% (1.25b)

Market Intelligence 1998 196m

Freedonia 1997 150m (US only)

Woodburn 1998 410m

Business Communications 1997 197m (US only)

Ernst and Young 1995+ 312m

Agrow 2000 600m

Source : Agriculture today, Jan,2005

   The domestic market of biopesticides is the best showcase of their plight - It is in infant stage still - Despite decades of existence, Biopesticides are considered as marginal products. Virtually bereft of  buyers and sellers.

 Awareness about the advantages of biopesticides is abysmally low as compared to the west," This affects their demand adversely.

Manufacturers claim that the projected demand for biopesticide has failed to become a reality. This lack of support is proving to be the death knell of this infant industry.

Rough estimates by the experts indicated a less than 2 per cent market share for Biopesticides in India.

Market potential - India

Source : Agriculture today, Jan,2005

Export market for biopesticides

 

       The export market for biopesticides particularly for neem-based products is however, flourishing.    At present a range of Biopesticides are being available in the Indian market and its demand is expected to increase in the near future.    At present , there are 40 units registered with CIB for manufacture of Neem based pesticides. Most of the units are located in A.P, Karnataka , Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Apart from these units there are many small units in unrecognized sector. Some of these units are exporting their product to developed countries also.   They produce @ 3000 Kiloliter of pesticides valued at 30 crores. According to the expert’s opinion, this demand can increase 10 times in a short period of 5 years.  

Factors contributed to the emergence of a market for biologicals

        Societies demand over environmental safety

  An increase in the price of chemical insecticides and the resistance of insects to these products

  Need to reduce residues of toxic chemicals in foodstuffs, especially those for export markets.

 A strong increase in the sales of organic food as consumers become more health conscious and concerned over their food coupled with higher buying power leading to increase in non-chemical crop protection and total crop care.

Caution

Dr Rachel Carson in her publication “Silent Spring” has summarized the sufficient socio-economic problems associated with synthetic chemical usage in the agricultural scenario.  All the more, one should not expect a over night change from synthetic chemicals to biologicals, but a gradual and steady change from high chemical input, off take to, low level of chemical input farming could be foreseen, planned and implemented.  One should bear in mind the socio-economic causes of agriculture and any change in the agriculture systems should not significantly decline the food production and the economic status of the rural poor.  Therefore, the reduction of chemical pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture must be done very carefully and the system of change over from chemicals to biologicals must be gradual.  

Govt. Attitude towards Biologicals

• IPM is the official strategy of the Government of India, articulated also in the Rio Agenda (Agenda 21 policy statements).

• NPM programmers have so far not received any governmental attention despite good successes.

• NGOs have usually been pioneering the NPM approach. On the organic front there are only some formal government-led initiatives for crops like tea and spices.

Suggested Policies

• Biopesticides: Wherever registration of biopesticides is required, it should be done by a separate Registration Board, rather than the Central Insecticides Board (CIB).

• The Biological inputs to be viewed differently due to the different nature mode of action of the products. Otherwise, the process of registration should be simplified with fewer requirements for toxicology and chemistry data. Bio-efficacy may be given top priority for registering the products.

• Exemption of biopesticides from State and Central Sales taxes and also VAT wherever applicable and exemption from Excise Duty.

To feed the future generations without degrading the resource base that supports crop productivity, agriculture must become economically viable and ecologically sustainable. Through organic farming, sustainability could be achieved.

It is not a question of eliminating the chemical fertilizers and pesticides from the agricultural production scenario.

How sufficient productivity can be achieved through Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Water Management (IWM) using local resources, aiming towards sustainability is the issue to be addressed at this juncture.

Conclusion