strategy
Controlling agricultural pests
Synonyms:
Treating pest infestation of cropsDestroying crop pests and diseases
Context:
This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Implementation:
Pest management is the domain of entomologists, ecologists, biologists, agriculturalists, toxicologists and chemists. The subject is highly complex and a multidisciplinary approach seems necessary. Unfortunately, however, there has been a tendency for each specialist to only consider his/her own discipline, thereby ignoring the numerous interactions between the dynamics of pest populations, the environment, crops, etc. Far preferable is that agricultural pest management be always viewed in its ecological context and that the whole farming system is studied before it is manipulated with external pest control measures, particularly toxic chemicals. The usual approach to pest management is pest-oriented rather than crop-oriented. However, since crops are more important than pests, a more direct approach to pest management is likely to be experimental variation of crop management rather than of pest control possibilities, and emphasis on data on cropping systems characteristics rather than on pest populations. Narrower:
Managing weedsControlling locustsDestroying bird pestsDestroying unneeded predatory animalsDeveloping pesticide and herbicide tolerant crops Facilitates:
Using biological pest control Facilitated by:
Developing agricultureStudying crop pests and diseasesProviding training on integrated pest management techniques Problems:
Crop pests and diseasesOrganizations:
Convention for the protection of birds useful to agriculture References:
International Council for Research in Agroforestry: Africa Seminar on the Use and Handling of Agricultural and Other Pest Control ChemicalsCorey, S A: Pest Control and Sustainable Agriculture Subjects:
Medicine → PathologySocietal Problems → Pests
Societal Problems → Destruction
Agriculture, Fisheries → Agriculture
Agriculture, Fisheries → Crops
Cybernetics → Control
Type Classification:
D: Detailed strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
