Asian Agri-History

K. V. Raghavendra ¹, R. Gowthami ², N. M. Lepakshi ², M. Dhananivetha ³, R. Shashank ⁴

Affiliations
1 University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru 560065, Karnataka, IR
2 University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru 560065, Karnataka, IN
3 Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, Tamil Nadu, IN
4 Government Science College, Bengaluru 560001, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Agriculture has been facing the destructive activities of numerous pests like fungi, weeds, and insects from time immemorial, leading to radical decrease in yields. Insect pests are the big enemies of farmers as they destroy crops, stored grains; act as a vector of diseases of livestock etc. Chemical pesticides are used to control these pests, but their indiscriminate use has resulted in development of insecticide resistance in pests, and higher levels of residual toxicity resulting in conversion of fertile lands into infertile and toxic. In addition it also contributes to environmental pollution by contaminating air, soil and water which results in health hazards to human and wild life. Growing public awareness and concern about the adverse effects of pesticides have necessitated the need to look for eco-friendly, safer and effective organic methods of pest control. The best solution for this is to follow indigenous traditional ways of pest control followed by farmers by using plants which were once prevalent all over the world, but with the advent and use of modern synthetic pesticide these have almost vanished from the developed countries and are mow confined to some regions of developing countries. More than 2500 plant species belonging to 235 families have been found to possess the characteristic properties required for an ideal botanical insecticide. Hence an attempt was made during Rural Agricultural Work Experience program ( RAWE) to acquire information on the indigenous botanical sprays used by the farmers in Segalapalli, Kamtampalli, and Tadigol Villages of Srinivaspura Taluk, Kolar District of Karnataka.

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