December 17, 2001	Monday	Shawwal 1, 1422

A number of countries had placed a ban on import from Pakistan including cotton, fruits and vegetables in the recent past as most of these products were found to be ‘poisonous’ due to excessive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in the fields.

Pesticides are good for crop protection but their excessive use can lead to a poisonous crop. However, the IPM is the only way to produce poison-free crops.

Crop enemies—insects and pests— are not a new problem for cultivators. The losses they cause are variable but their cumulative effect is considerable, and most of growers are of the opinion that these insects could only be controlled by use of pesticides.

Crop protection is the preservation and protection of crops from all hazards including the insects and pests. However, past experiences have showed that the use of pesticides is not a profitable way of protecting crops, because these are equally poisonous. It means that pesticides do not kill only insects and pests injurious to plants and crops, they also kill useful insects, birds, animals and even human beings, directly or indirectly. Therefore, it seems that the only proper use of pesticides should be recommended by adopting the integrated pest management (IPM), the integrated plant disease management (IPDM) or the integrated weed management (IWM).

There are many methods which are adopted, either singly or jointly, but the use of several techniques in combination, has usually proved more successful and most efficient, than any one method used alone. It is because the integrated pest, plant disease or weed management is a mix of biological, cultural and chemical practices, with the involvement of all preventive and chemical control of insect pests, diseases and weeds.

Hence, growers as well as agricultural extension and research workers must know the production-technology along with the nature and causes of the diseases, only then an easy, less- expensive, and profitable integrated management method can be implemented, keeping in view the particular problems of a particular crop.

Pre-planning: It is one of the most effective devise for getting high yields per unit and includes having a close look at the following factors also:

Climate: Climate (which includes temperature, humidity, rainfall, sunshine, cloudiness and wind), is the most important factor helps or hinders production of crops. Therefore, the crop should be sown according to the climatic conditions of an area.

Soil: The soil is not found to be uniform even in a small area, and it exists in various types. While, the plants depend upon soil type and condition such as water and other essential nutritional elements, the soil contributes significantly to plant growth.

Land erosion: Withering away of soil surface by running water, wind and other geological agents is termed as land erosion. Cultivating crops in suitable rotations could control this situation.

Area cleanliness: Cropping area should be kept free from unwanted weeds, and plants and even trees. However it must be kept in mind that all trees are not injurious and many of them are even essential for protection of environmental pollution and favourable climatic conditions for crops.

Crop selection: Crop should be selected keeping in view the availability of agricultural inputs and other resources and only those varieties should be selected, which are high-yielding, resistant to diseases.

Healthy and pure seed: Availability of healthy and pure seed should be confirmed, because only such type of seed could be helpful for obtaining optimum crop production, otherwise seed treatment may be done against seed borne diseases.

Water availability: Irrigation water is one of the pre- requirements for crops. Judicious use of irrigation water may help to increase cropping area and yield as well.

Fertilizers: Farm yard manure as well as green manuring could improve poor soils, but chemical fertilizers may also prove helpful. Most of crop enemies i.e. insect pests, diseases, weed etc. could be timely controlled by proper use of agro-chemicals (pesticides), and arrangements should be made before the season.

Machinery: Different agricultural implements and machinery are required for different agronomic practices, but all are not available to all growers and arrangements for the same should be made before-hand.

Sowing: There are various methods of sowing, based on the type of crop. Normally, sowing in lines is better but in case of crop requirements or late sowing, broadcasting method gives a better yield. Direct seeding in wet or dry soil and transplanting may also prove helpful for some crops. Ghurbi/kur (seeding in standing water) has proved best for the cultivation of wheat in the saline soils.

Seed rate: Uniform population of crop plants is very important for obtaining optimum yield, which could be achieved by using proper seed rate. Seed rate depends upon the seed purity, sowing time, and soil type and/or crop variety. The depth for sowing and distance between two plants and two rows should also be managed, which varies from area to area.

Cop care: Regular care of the crop is also one of the methods for obtaining optimum crop production and following are basic tips for the purpose:

Thinning: In order to provide favourable moisture, nutrition, sunlight and space to crop, thinning and earthing up must be done. It is very important for different crops, which not only make the soil porous but at the same time, protect the crop from lodging, as well as from insect pests and diseases.

Irrigation: Moisture plays a very important role in the growth of crops. Some crops require less while others need higher amount of water. It is also true that there are certain critical growth stages of each crop. If water will not be supplied on such stages, the yield would decrease considerably.

Weather conditions: Low or high temperature effects, light effects, soil moisture disturbance, oxygen relations,

Harvesting: Harvesting is the time when ripe or mature crops are cut (e.g. cereals), lifted (e.g. root crops) or picked (e.g. fruit, hops). The delay in harvesting may result in yield losses due to shattering, lodging, rats, birds, insect pests, pathogens etc., the quality of the produce may also spoil.

Therefore, care must be taken against all pre-harvest, and post -harvest practices. Storage is also one of the problems faced by growers.