Pest Control and Livelihoods in Agriculture

What is a “Pest”

A pest may be defined as any organism that interferes

with production of the crop. In spite of the general
category of pests such as insects, diseases and weeds,
there are many other types including nematodes,
arthropods etc.
Problem of Pest in Indian Agricultural Production

Insect pests, diseases and weeds cause considerable

damage to potential agricultural production. Evidences
indicate that pests cause 25 percent loss in rice, 5-10
percent in wheat, 30 percent in pulses, 35 percent in
oilseeds, 20 percent in sugarcane and 50 percent in cotton

Pesticide use in India increased from a mere 15 g/ha of

gross cropped in 1955-56 to 404 g/ha in 1990-91.
Total pesticide consumption is the highest in Maharashtra,
followed by Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. On the
other hand, per hectare consumption of pesticides was
the highest in Punjab (0.74 kg), followed by Haryana (0.62
kg) and Maharashtra (0.57 kg) during 2016-17. 
Trends in Consumption of Pesticide in India
Agricultural losses due to Pest in India

Consumption of Pesticides

Plants diseases 26%

Weeds 33%
Insects & Rodents 26%
Nematodes 15%
Pesticides consumption annual growth is 9%, Chemical
pesticide market INR3100crore/per annum
 Use of Chemical pesticide in Various Crops

Crops % of Consumption Cultivated Area%

1. Cotton 50-55 5
2. Rice 17- 18 24
3. Fruits & vegetable 13- 24 3
4. Plantation crop( tea, coffee etc) 7- 8 2
5. Other cereals, oil seeds & pulses 6- 7 58
6. Sugar cane 2- 3 2
7. Other crops 1-2 6
 Problem of Pesticide Consumption
Synthetic Pesticides: Pesticides are chemicals used in killing plants, animals and pests.
It is a general term that includes bactericides, fungicides, nematocides, insecticides
and also herbicides or weedicides.
Main Disadvantages in the use:
Non Biodegradable and persist in the soil, water, food and concentration goes on
increasing with successive spraying.
Pesticide residue in the case of cereals, fruits, vegetables, milk, tea, coffee, spices,
cattle feeds, etc.
Development of insect resistance (400 pests have became resistant to pesticides)
Toxicity to non target organism, ecological imbalance.
Contamination of ground water
Loss of confidence of Farmers in Chemical pesticides.
Export rejection more than1000 cores.
According to WHO : 10,00,000 people are taken ill every year with pesticides
poisoning and 20,000 die.
 Impact of Chemical Pesticides on Other Organism:
 Non target species: Pollinators, bees, silk worm, butter flies, birds, fish, cattles,
goats etc.
 Crops: Chlorophyll loss, tissue death, flower dropping, fruit dropping,
 Soil Microflora helping in Agri- Production:
 Nitrogen fixation bacteria, solubilization of Phosphorus ,Sulphur and other
micronutrients.
Classification of Pesticides according to
Toxicity of chemical pesticides: based on the toxicological evaluations the chemical
pesticides are classified in to the following groups:
I. Extremely Hazardous Aldicarb, Parathion, Mono crotophos, DDT
II. Highly Hazardous: Aldrin, Carbofuran, Endosulphan
III. Moderately Hazardous: Clorpyrifos, Lindane
IV. Slightly Hazardous: Carbendazin ,
Class I pesticides should be banned
Based on acute toxicity, the World Health Organization classifies certain pesticides
as extremely hazardous (Class Ia) and highly hazardous (Class Ib).
Necessary provisions should be made in the bill to ban sale and use of Class I
pesticides.
Prior to August 2018, around 18 Class I pesticides were allowed in India; few of
them were used heavily and accounted for about 30 per cent of the total pesticides
used in India. These have also been banned for use in several countries.
In August, 2018, the MoAFW banned 18 pesticides, three years after the
recommendations of the Anupam Varma Committee. But, it left out two heavily-
used Class I pesticides:
Monocrotophos and Carbofuran.
Deaths related to pesticide poisoning in India are common. In 2014, the National
Crimes Records Bureau recorded 7,365 cases of poisoning due to accidental intake
of insecticides / pesticides, out of which 5,915 died. In 2015, 7,060 deaths were
reported out of 7,672 cases.
 Affects of chemical pesticides on Human beings/
mammals:
General ill effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Dizziness, blindness, paralysis, progressive
depression, coma, blood pressure, death, defect of new born babies.
On Skin Contact
Irritation, Allergies, dermatitis,
On Inhalation
Damage to respiratory tract, bronchia- constrictions/
On Ingestion
Diarrhea, organ damage, leukemia,
Slow of heart function, Neurotoxicity
Carcinogenicity
Effects of chemical pesticides on Human
beings/ mammals:
INDIAN BREAST MILK HAS THE HIGHEST LEVEL
OF DDT
Ludhiana 17.5 ppm
(According to Asia Toxics)
Faridkot 26.6 ppm
(Campaigner of green peace
international Australia)
USA 0.56 ppm
Brazil 2.6 ppm
 Alternative to Chemical Pesticides
Today, there are enough well-proven, successful
alternative agro-ecological methods of pest
management without using any chemical pesticide
in India and globally. Such methods must be
mainstreamed and promoted among farmers.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
 What is IPM
Integrated Pest Management, or IPM is a pest
management system designed to provide long-term
management of pests, not temporary eradication of
them. It is the coordinated use of pest and
environmental information with available pest control
methods to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage  
by the most economical means with the least possible
hazard to people, property, and the environment.
In India about 80% farmers are Small and Marginal
Category. IPM is most suited to these farmers families.
IPM components are cost effective and environmental
friendly to suit the situations of above category of
farmers.
 Objective of IPM

• To minimize the loss by pests

• To increase the content of eco-friendly organisms in the environment
• Involve the farmers in effective implementation of IPM
• Involve the Govt. and NGOs in effective way
• Mass media involvement
 Bio Pesticides :The Eco-safe Alternative
The term ‘Biological’ Materials and organisms which can be formulated for
use as pesticides for control of pest. These includes Micro- organisms such as
bacteria, fungi, viruses as well as materials of plants origin ( botanical
pesticides)
Microbial Pesticides: Consists of a micro organism (e.g. bacteria, fungus,
virus) as active ingredient.
Ex: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Bacillus sphacricus (Bs.) ( Becteria)
Psedomomas ( Bacteria),Tricoderma (fungus)
Biochemical: Bio chemicals pesticides are naturally occurring substance that
control pests by nontoxic mechanisms, Ex: Insects Sex pheromone, plant
extract.
Bio pesticides belong to three categories:
(1) Living organisms (i.e. natural enemies), which include invertebrates
(e.g. predatory insects), nematodes and micro-organisms.

(2) Naturally occurring substances which include plant extracts and

semiochemicals e.g. insect pheromones).

(3) Genetically modified plants that express introduced genes that confer
protection against pests or diseases (so called plant incorporated
products).
 Botanical pesticide
Botanical pesticides are secondary metabolites synthesizes by plants.
These chemicals defense the plant against insect attack.
Commercial Botanical pesticides
Pyrethrum Chrysanthemum
Rotenone Derries
Azadirachtine Neem
In India , 1000 species of plants are known to have insecticidal properties.
380 Species Anti feedant
300 Species Repellent
 30 Species Attractant
Neem, Karanja,, Mahua, Lantana, Dhatura, Jatropha, Palash, Turmeric, Tulsi, Genda. etc.
 Neem-based biopesticides

• Need for ecologically safe pest control alternatives for sustainable

agriculture.

• NEEM (Azadirachta indica A. Juss): A storehouse of pesticidal

compounds like Azadirachtin, Nimbin, Salannin, Nimbidin and 300
more so far identified.

• Estimated 20 million Neem trees in India with seed production

potential of 664,000 MT annually.

• Azadirachtin is the major limonoid found in the range of 0.2 to 0.6%

(w/w) in neem seed kernels and possesses anti-feedant, repellent,
growth disrupting and larvicidal properties against a large number of
pests.
Chemical Structure of Azadirachtin A
Bio pesticides from Neem
Bioactive/ Active constituents in
Neem:
Azadirachtine, Salanin, Nimbin, Nimbidin,
Meliantrol
Neem Cake as Bio fertilizer
Neem cake 3.56% N, 1.0%P, 1.67K
Ca 0.77% Mg, 0.75%
Neem Leave as fertilizer
Nitrification Inhibitor
 BIOPESTICIDES FROM NEEM
Neem is a fast growing tree and seed production from tree can be expected within 4- 5 years
Full grown neem tree produces: 30-40 kg seed/ annum
Plantation of Neem: 400 tree(5m×5m) / ha of waste land
Seed yield: 400×20kg / per tree = 8T/ annum
Income: 800×Rs 4/- = 32,000/ annum
Agro forestry model: 10m×10m (200 trees)
Rs 8000 / to 10.000/annum
Seed collection, depulping, drying, dehulling . Oil and pesticidal constituents extraction,
pesticide formulation will generated employment in the rural sector
Environmental Benefits: Neem tree has got high efficiency of CO2 fixation.
14 unit mol CO2 per m3 per Sec
Health benefits: Medicine, Soap, etc.
INDIA: A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF NEEM

Total Neem tree: 15 million

 
Fruit yield per tree[Ripe]: 30-50 kg
 
Total fruit production: 750 million tones

Constituents of Neem Fruit: Pulp: 47.5%

Skin: 23.8%
Shell: 18.6%
Kernel: 10.1%

Pulp production: 350-375 million tones

Traditional uses: Urinary diseases, piles,

intestinal worms, leprosy
EXISTING PROBLEMS FOR NEEM SEED

•Seed collection and processing at rural level is a major problem

•Collection of Neem fruits coincides with the rainy season,

vulnerable to fungal attack which reduces the quality and quantity
of Neem oil

•Fungus attack is carried along the sweet pulp of the Neem fruits
and invariably reduces the shelf life of such seeds

•No suitable equipment is available for Neem depulping in the

country

•To overcome the above-mentioned problems, a suitable, low

cost mechanical depulping equipment is designed and fabricated
by our group at CRDT, IIT, Delhi.
 ADVANTAGES OF NEEM DEPULPER

• Separation of Quality seeds and fruit pulp efficiently

• 50% reduction of the weight of the collected fruit after

depulping would reduce transportation cost of the
seeds.

• Depulped seeds produced quality Neem oil and Neem

cake with enriched bioactive constituents.

• Neem pulp so far has been overlooked and wasted but

now it can be collected and used for preparation of
value added products.
 Neem Seed as Feed stock for Bio pesticide

Traditional Neem Seed Plant bearing Fruit MANUAL DEPULPER

Seed after Depulping

BUCKET TYPE DEPULPER MECHANICAL DEPULPER
 Manual Neem depulper

4
2
1

5
6 8

LEGEND
1. Water line
2. Inspection box
7 3. Main cylinder
4. Hopper
5. Outlet for seed
6. Outlet for pulp and skin
7. Main frame
8. Handle

32
 a. Spiral type

b. Nylon brush type

Rubbing units
a. Circular holes, 4 mm dia

b. Rectangular holes 18x 4mm

Type of sieve
 Water system
Handle

Extension of legs

Bearings

Seed outlet Hopper

Accessories of Depulper
 Bucket type Depulper
BUCKET TYPE DEPULPER
Study of depulping efficiency of different process for
Neem seed
Process Capacity Depulping efficiency
kg/h percent
Prototype 25.47 98.42
depulper
depulper 10.50 64.00

Bucket type 5.42 45.50

depulper
Manual 7.00 100.00
depulping
 Performance values of final prototype depulper
at the recommended specifications.

S.N. Performance parameter Value

1 Depulping efficiency, % 98
2 Total loss, % <1
3 Capacity, kg/h 24.5
4 Water supply, l/h 20
5 Sieve size, mm 18x 4, rectangular
6 Diameter of sieve cylinder, mm 200
7 Slope of machine,% horizontal
8 Energy consumption, hp 0.1
9 Labor requirement One

38
 DESIGNING OF DEPULPER FOR QUALITY
CONTROL
Parameters considered for Equipment designing
Simple in use
Low cost availability
Efficiency
Designing stages & respective efficiency
Manual depulper: 5-6 kg/hr [ Rs. 600/-]
Bucket type depulper: 7-9 kg/hr [ Rs. 800/-]
Mechanical depulper: 10-12kg/hr [ Rs. 850/-]
Improved Mechanical depulper: 20-25kg/hr [ Rs. 10,000/-]
 Inexpensive Neem biopesticidal Products
Increasing cost of chemical pesticide has affected
Small and Marginal Farmers the most.
Crude Neem extracts are nearly as effective as
commercial Neem products and can be prepared at
village level.
 Neem in Agriculture
As Insecticidal and pesticidal activity of neem extract
(water /alcohol extract and neem oil)
•Insect growth regulator or growth disrupting and Antifeedant
•Anti fungal activity
•Bactericidal
•Nematicial Activity
•Ovipositional Activity ( preventing the females from depositing
egg)
•More than 250 pests have been effected by Neem extract.
 Costs of different insecticides in comparison with Neem products
in the Dominican Republic
Product Price (US $ /kg) Application rate Cost (US $ / ha)
/ ha

Dipel (B.t.) 11.6 2.0 kg 23.2

Decis (Deltamethrin) 34.4 0.5 17.2

Diazinon (Diazinon) 15.8 1.2 19.0

Thiodan (Endosulfan) 18.4 11.0 18.4

Ambush (permethrin) 88.0 0.351 30.8

Neem seeds 0.9 30g Aza/ha (12 10.8

(Azadirachtin) kg seeds)
Bioactive/ Active constituents in Neem:
Azadirachtine Salanin, Nimbin, Nimbidin,
Meliantrol
As Manure and fertilizer
Neem cake 3.56% N, 1.0%P, 1.67K
Ca 0.77% Mg, 0.75%
Neem Leave as fertilizer
Nitrification Inhibitor
 NEEM IN INCREASING FERTILIZER NITROGEN EFFICIENCY
Neem cake has slow release properties.
Neem cake coated urea has been found to reduce losses of fertilizer nitrogen and
enhance nitrogen use efficiency.
Indian Farmers use ~ 11.0 million tonnes of urea fertilizer.
Urea transformation & use efficiency in the field
NH2 CONH2 + H2O (NH4)2 CO2
Urea + H2O - ---- Ammonium Carbonate (urease enzyme)
Under high alkalinity & high temp (less moisture)
NH2 CO NH2 + H2O 2NH3 + CO2
NEEM DECORTICATOR DESIGNED AND FABRICATED
UNDER NEEM PROJECT(CRDT, IIT Delhi)
EXTRACTION OF NEEM OIL BY DIFFERENT METHOD
Extraction method Percent yield of
oil
Soxhlet extraction with n- 49
hexane
Hydraulic presses 42-45
Mechanical expeller 40-42
Village ghanis 38-39
Screw press oil expeller (German 42-44
design)
TRADITIONAL INDIAN GHANI
POWER GHANI
MECHANICAL OIL EXPELLER
MECHANICAL OIL EXPELLER (GERMAN TYPE)
 OBJECTIVES
Development of Neem Oil based herbal mosquito repellents and
larvicidal Products

Value addition to Neem byproducts ( Mosquito Coil)

Pressurised Solvent Extraction of Neem Cake
Development of Neem formulations.
Entrepreneur generation
MOSQUITO PROBLEM IN INDIA
•About 0.4 million people per annum die from diseases caused by
mosquitoes.
•Other than malaria, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and
filariasis are the most common transmitted disease in India.
•Presently used mosquito repellent chemical i.e.allethrin is
imported, synthetic and expensive one.
•Harmful chemical pesticides like DDT, temephops, DEET are used
for mosquitoes control.
 Some plant having repellent activity against mosquito vectors

Plants species Plant product

Tagetus minuta (Compositae) Essential oil Whole plant, flower
Cymbopogen spp. (Gramineae) Essential Oil
Mentha piperita (Labiatae) Essential oil
Dalbergia sisoo Roxb Essential oil
(Leguminasae)
Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) Neem oil –water emulsion
Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) 2% Neem oil-mixed with coconut/mustard
oil as topical application
Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) 5-10% Neem oil-impregnated on mats
(vapours)
Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae) 1% Neem oil in kerosene (smoke)
Eucalyptus maculata (Myrtaceae) PMD Spray 50% ai based on essential oil
Lantana camara (Verbnaceae) Flower-Methanol extract+Coconut oil
Relative Efficacy of Innovative and commercial personal protection methods

PP Methods % protection
An. culicifacies Total Anophiines Cx. quinque. Total Mosquitoes
1% Esbiothrin 98.899.0 94.6 98.5
1% EK lamp 100.0 100.0 99.6 99.7
1% NK lamp 95.489.3 69.6 77.9
2% NK lamp 100.0 95.1 80.7 81.2
C. Martinii sofia 100.0 100.0 96.8 96.3
C. Nardus 100.0 100.0 97.8 97.9
C. Citratus 98.799.5 97.6 98.2
Good Night 55.064.0 46.9 51.7
Tortoise coil 65.377.6 84.0 68.6
ANTI MOSQUITO PRODUCTS
Repellents

•Mosquito coils prepared by using depulped Neem seed husk as

base ingredient

•Liquid CO2 extracted volatile constituents from freshly

crushed Neem seeds for liquid formulations

Larvicidal

•Neem oil based larvicidal formulations in combination with

other essential oils

•Slow release spreading formulations

 BIOACTIVITY TESTING OF THE OIL

• Adulticidal and larvicidal activity of the oil was tested against

Culex and Aedes Sp.

• Neem oil was tested in combination with different essential oils

• Results were encouraging.

• Based on the preliminary findings antimosquito products were

developed.
Promising plant species having insecticidal properties
Plant name Plant extract
Anethum sowa (seed) Essential oil
Azadirachta indica (Neem Volatile and non-
leaves/kernel) volatile fraction
Curcuma species (haldi) Essential oil
rhizome and leaf
Ocimum species (tulsi, marua Essential oil
etc)
Mentha species (pudina) Essential oil
Chenopodium (bathua) Essential oil
Nirgundi Essential oil
Tagates (genda) Essential oil
Ocimum basillicum(European species)
Ocimum basilicum (Indian)
PRODUCTION PROCESS OF
MOSQUITO REPELLENTS

Production of mosquito repellent process is similar to Agarbatti

manufacturing process
1. Oil extraction : Neem oil (Oil expeller),
Essential oil (Steam distillation)
2. Grinding of mosquito repellent ingradients:
a) Gigat powder (Mochilas makrantha)
b) Nurva
c) Waste sandal wood
d) Charcoal
3. Preparation of semisolid paste + Gum (Temarind seed kernel
powder,Guar Gum)
4.Rolling Sun drying Perfuming Packing
NEEM BASED MOSQUITO CONTROL PRODUCTS
DEVELOPED BY OUR GROUP:
•COILS
•MATS
•CREAM
•LARVICIDAL
Coil Fomulation
Neem Based Mosquito Coil
Ingredients % w/w
Saw dust 30-60%
Jigat 6-7%
Potassium nitrate/Cow dung 3-4%
Guar gum powder 1-2%
Sodium benzoate 0.5- 1%
Active Ingredients 0-60%
Total 100%
Neem oil Based Formulation for Mosquito Larvae

• Neem oil combination with Dillapiole enhances the

performance of formulation
• Two types of formulation
a.20% Emulsifiable Concentrate
b.5% Microemulsion
 Neem based Formulations Developed
GRANULES (COATED/IMPREGNATED)
Neem in combination to
Anethum sowa was
impreganted in
sodium alginate beads

Disadvantages
Advantages
• May be consumed by non- target
• Easy to handle and pack
organism
• Low drift
(especially birds)
• Long residual activity
• No spray application
• Low Phytotoxicity
Dillapiole
• A natural synergist ,belongs to the chemical group-
phenylpropanoid,key structural unit is a benzene ring bearing a
methoxylenedioxy unit,which is responsible for insecticidal activity
against insect.
 MICROEMULSION (new generation formulations)
effective, safer, easier to
handle and environment friendly

Composition : Active ingredient

water
Emulsifier

Advantages Disadvantages
• Thermodynamically stable • High emulsifier level
• Good bio-efficacy • Lower loading of active
• Easy application
• Low flammability
Optimization of neem oil and dillapiole ratio against
mosquito larvae
Ingredients (80 % Larval Mortality (Mean ±SD)*
ppm)
Ratio Aedes aegypti Culex quinquefasciatus

Neem oil Dillapiol 24 h 48 h 72h 24 h 48 h 72h

e
1 0 ** 5.33±4 26± 16±3.4 30.6±3. 39.4±3.
4 4
0 1 100 *** *** 100 *** ***
7 1 76 ±7 78 ±7 83±6.4 84.88±7.7 91.5±6. 95±4.8
2
3 1 98.66 100 *** 99.55±1.33 100 ***
±2
*data represent mean of three independent experiments each with three replicates
** No mortality was observed
*** Observation was not continued due to 100% mortality at 24h
Bio-efficacy Shelf life of Neem oil based 5 % Microemulsion

Neem oil Dillapiole Microemulsion % Larval mortality against

stored at ambient temperature (28 Ae.aegypti
to 30±2oC)
Storage period Mean SD
0 day 98.68±2.3
7 day 98.68± 2.3
14 day 94.66 ±2.3
1 month 94.66 ±6.11
2 month 93.33 ±6.11
3 month 90.66 ± 8.32
CONCLUSION
•Depulper could be made available in the rural areas at
affordable price which would ensure quality collection of the
seed and pulp ; help generate rural employment.

•The bioassay results indicate antimosquito properties; so the

fruit parts (husk, deoiled cake and oil) could be used for
making various antimosquito products (larvicidal
formulations, mosquito coils, lotions and creams) which may
have promising market potential.

 
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THANK YOU