The village level adoption of IPM programme on cotton in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh indicated that implementation of IPM practices helped in getting more economic returns with less cost of plant protection due to usage of botanical and cost effective pesticides. The sucking pests and boll worms were effectively controlled by IPM components and need based chemical interventions similar to insecticide dependent non IPM block. In the present study, IPM farmers obtained higher net returns with high cost benefit ratio compared to non IPM farmers, though there were only marginal differences in the yield which was due to saving from cost of plant protection. Adoption of IPM not only promoted the monetary terms of the farmers but also facilitated the buildup of natural enemies by preserving natural ecological balance due to less usage of pesticides and thus, supported the sustainable cultivation of cotton.
Economics, Gossypium hersutum, IPM, Pests and natural enemies
