minimal risk products safe to human and his environment. It includes the use of
botanicals, microbial pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses and natural enemies
of pests such as parasitoids and predators, nematodes and semiochemicals. Indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides resulted in the development of resistance,
resurgence and outbreak of secondary pests. Stringent regulation in the use of
synthetic pesticides and the demand for organics promote the use of biopesticides.
Management of pests without using harmful chemicals to human health and the
environment is possible only by using biopesticides (Chandler et al. 2011; Bastiaans
et al. 2008). Biopesticides play an important role in sustainable agriculture (Prasad
et al. 2014, 2017). It causes mortality by substantially reducing arthropod
populations before it reaches the economic threshold level (Betz et al. 2000).
There is an urgent requirement to include biopesticides in Integrated Pest Management Programmes (IPM) to make it more sustainable since it lacks phytotoxicity,
leaves no residues and is eco-friendly (Bhattacharyya et al. 2016).
11.2 Biopesticides: Global and Indian Perspective
The contribution of biopesticides to insecticide sector accounts for 15% of the total
insecticide market. The estimated share of biopesticides in the world market is
around $3 billion accounting for 5% of the total crop protection (Marrone 2014).
The growth rate of a biopesticides is increased to 15%. In a successful natural control
program, only 15% of biocontrol agents for control of insect pests have been
identified. Commercially more than 125 species of natural enemies are available as
biopesticides. Almost 90% of the microbial biopesticides currently available in the
market are derived from only one entomopathogenic bacteria, i.e., Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt). Major producers and users of biopesticides in the world are the
United States (US), European Union (EU) and India. In the US market, more than
200 Bt products and in EU 60 Bt-based products and 60 analogous products are
commercially available (Kumar and Singh 2015). According to the report of India
Biopesticides Market Insights, the Indian biopesticides market is expected to reach
INR 316 Billion by 2024 from INR 197 billion during 2018. Biopesticides market
potential in India is remarkably huge as the crop losses due to pest is about USD
9259 million per annum. However, presently, the biopesticides market accounts for
only 5% of the pesticide industry. The Central Insecticides Board and Registration
Committee (CIBRC) in India have registered about 970 microbial formulations.
Further, about 200 entomopathogenic fungi-based products are available for commercial use. Among them, Beauveria bassiana, B. brongniartii, Metarhizium
anisopliae, Lecanicillium lecanii and Hirsutella thompsonii are widely used against
arthropods. A total of 45 products of Bt are commercially available. B. thuringiensis
subspecies kurstaki is widely used against bollworms, loopers and other
lepidopterans. B. thuringiensis subspecies israelensis and sphaericus are used
against the mosquito. Among viruses, nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPV) are
used against bollworms and armyworms. Rao and Manjunath (1966) demonstrated
the use of first entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae (DD-136
240
M. Rajamani and A. Negi
botanicals, microbial pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, viruses and natural enemies
of pests such as parasitoids and predators, nematodes and semiochemicals. Indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides resulted in the development of resistance,
resurgence and outbreak of secondary pests. Stringent regulation in the use of
synthetic pesticides and the demand for organics promote the use of biopesticides.
Management of pests without using harmful chemicals to human health and the
environment is possible only by using biopesticides (Chandler et al. 2011; Bastiaans
et al. 2008). Biopesticides play an important role in sustainable agriculture (Prasad
et al. 2014, 2017). It causes mortality by substantially reducing arthropod
populations before it reaches the economic threshold level (Betz et al. 2000).
There is an urgent requirement to include biopesticides in Integrated Pest Management Programmes (IPM) to make it more sustainable since it lacks phytotoxicity,
leaves no residues and is eco-friendly (Bhattacharyya et al. 2016).
11.2 Biopesticides: Global and Indian Perspective
The contribution of biopesticides to insecticide sector accounts for 15% of the total
insecticide market. The estimated share of biopesticides in the world market is
around $3 billion accounting for 5% of the total crop protection (Marrone 2014).
The growth rate of a biopesticides is increased to 15%. In a successful natural control
program, only 15% of biocontrol agents for control of insect pests have been
identified. Commercially more than 125 species of natural enemies are available as
biopesticides. Almost 90% of the microbial biopesticides currently available in the
market are derived from only one entomopathogenic bacteria, i.e., Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt). Major producers and users of biopesticides in the world are the
United States (US), European Union (EU) and India. In the US market, more than
200 Bt products and in EU 60 Bt-based products and 60 analogous products are
commercially available (Kumar and Singh 2015). According to the report of India
Biopesticides Market Insights, the Indian biopesticides market is expected to reach
INR 316 Billion by 2024 from INR 197 billion during 2018. Biopesticides market
potential in India is remarkably huge as the crop losses due to pest is about USD
9259 million per annum. However, presently, the biopesticides market accounts for
only 5% of the pesticide industry. The Central Insecticides Board and Registration
Committee (CIBRC) in India have registered about 970 microbial formulations.
Further, about 200 entomopathogenic fungi-based products are available for commercial use. Among them, Beauveria bassiana, B. brongniartii, Metarhizium
anisopliae, Lecanicillium lecanii and Hirsutella thompsonii are widely used against
arthropods. A total of 45 products of Bt are commercially available. B. thuringiensis
subspecies kurstaki is widely used against bollworms, loopers and other
lepidopterans. B. thuringiensis subspecies israelensis and sphaericus are used
against the mosquito. Among viruses, nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPV) are
used against bollworms and armyworms. Rao and Manjunath (1966) demonstrated
the use of first entomopathogenic nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae (DD-136
240
M. Rajamani and A. Negi