Application of Biodegradable Pesticides in India
277
of different pesticides in a variety of Indian crops (Table 10.5) have been compiled by Bindra and Kalra (1971) and Agnihothrudu and Mithyantha (1978).
10.6. POSTHARVEST STORAGE
With the advent of modern organic insecticides for storage, pest control has
opened a new chapter in applied storage entomology. Some work on the efficacy
of some of these organic insecticides has been in progress in India for nearly
two decades. The Ministry of Agriculture has suggested various programs to
increase agricultural production and productivity through increased use of pesticides. Some of the schemes for supply of pesticides for the protection of stored
grains in the model villages are the "Save Grain" campaign of the Agriculture
Ministry; the national program of rodent control, weed control and pest management; and centrally sponsored schemes for control and eradication of pests
and diseases in endemic areas. Aerial application to about 1,555,000 acres and
ground spraying of 667,000 acres with different pesticides took place during the
year 1977-1978 (Anonymous, 1977a).
Over two-thirds of the population in India depends upon agriculture as a
main occupation. This accounts for about 50% of the national increase. The
cultivators and farmers in India store food grains and other agricultural commodities produced in their fields to meet their annual household requirements.
Reports indicate that as much as 60-70% of the total production is retained by
the farmer and that only 30-40% is released to marketing channels as surplus.
During 1977-1978, about 75-88 out of 126 million tons of food grain were
retained by farmers. It was kept in storage that was far from satisfactory. The
faulty storage conditions often account for the huge quantitative and qualitative
losses of the food grains. It has been indicated that 9.3% of food grains are lost
during post harvest and 6.68% during storage. In terms of money, this is tantamount to an annual loss of over 6360 million rupees.
Farmers usually store the food grains in bulk in different kinds of storage
structures. These structures are normally constructed from the material available
locally in the villages. The farmers use mud and split bamboo as materials. The
stores are either inside the house or outside in an open area, with the latter
constructed either above or below the ground. Structures built above ground are
called Kothis, those built underground, Khattis. Since the walls of the storages
are not waterproof, loss of grain due to absorption of moisture is a regular
occurrence. The high moisture content of the stored grain leads to fungal infection
and caking of grains on all the exposed walls.
The structures made from split bamboo and mud give no protection from
moisture during the rainy seasons or protection from insects and rodents. Since
the structures are not air-tight, chemical fumigation will not be possible or
277
of different pesticides in a variety of Indian crops (Table 10.5) have been compiled by Bindra and Kalra (1971) and Agnihothrudu and Mithyantha (1978).
10.6. POSTHARVEST STORAGE
With the advent of modern organic insecticides for storage, pest control has
opened a new chapter in applied storage entomology. Some work on the efficacy
of some of these organic insecticides has been in progress in India for nearly
two decades. The Ministry of Agriculture has suggested various programs to
increase agricultural production and productivity through increased use of pesticides. Some of the schemes for supply of pesticides for the protection of stored
grains in the model villages are the "Save Grain" campaign of the Agriculture
Ministry; the national program of rodent control, weed control and pest management; and centrally sponsored schemes for control and eradication of pests
and diseases in endemic areas. Aerial application to about 1,555,000 acres and
ground spraying of 667,000 acres with different pesticides took place during the
year 1977-1978 (Anonymous, 1977a).
Over two-thirds of the population in India depends upon agriculture as a
main occupation. This accounts for about 50% of the national increase. The
cultivators and farmers in India store food grains and other agricultural commodities produced in their fields to meet their annual household requirements.
Reports indicate that as much as 60-70% of the total production is retained by
the farmer and that only 30-40% is released to marketing channels as surplus.
During 1977-1978, about 75-88 out of 126 million tons of food grain were
retained by farmers. It was kept in storage that was far from satisfactory. The
faulty storage conditions often account for the huge quantitative and qualitative
losses of the food grains. It has been indicated that 9.3% of food grains are lost
during post harvest and 6.68% during storage. In terms of money, this is tantamount to an annual loss of over 6360 million rupees.
Farmers usually store the food grains in bulk in different kinds of storage
structures. These structures are normally constructed from the material available
locally in the villages. The farmers use mud and split bamboo as materials. The
stores are either inside the house or outside in an open area, with the latter
constructed either above or below the ground. Structures built above ground are
called Kothis, those built underground, Khattis. Since the walls of the storages
are not waterproof, loss of grain due to absorption of moisture is a regular
occurrence. The high moisture content of the stored grain leads to fungal infection
and caking of grains on all the exposed walls.
The structures made from split bamboo and mud give no protection from
moisture during the rainy seasons or protection from insects and rodents. Since
the structures are not air-tight, chemical fumigation will not be possible or