Integrated Crop Disease Management in Arid Rajasthan: A Synthesis of Indigenous Knowledge with Biocontrol

In view of awareness toward nature-friendly management of plant diseases, the need of integration and use of indigenous knowledge (IK) with modern biological control measures has been emphasized. In view of new insights being generated it is accentuated to reassess the system of sustainable plant disease management. One farmer-inspired indigenous practice of using raw cow milk as seed treatment has been experimentally validated integrating with Trichoderma spp. (the farmer-friendly fungus and biocontrol agent) at farmers' fields and at C. R. Farm of the Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur. The present article, besides documenting the success stories of validating biocontrol agents to manage plant diseases in arid Rajasthan, attempts to revive interest in IK and biocontrol emphasizing new research needs to reassess the system of sustainable plant disease management.