Biopesticides: An Indian Overview

Biopesticides are projected as an important input for managing pests in Indian agriculture. Unfortunately, their variable performance under the different crop-agro-climatic domains and the difficulties in sustaining assured supplies of the quality organism(s) and/or product(s) have been serious constraints in their adoption for commercialization by the industry and for use by the farmers. Efforts by the national research and development system are in progress to overcome the constraints. Both botanicals (ex. pyrethrum, neem, citronella) and microbials (ex. bacteria, fungi, virus) are registered under the Insecticides Act, 1968. The ready to use as well as the on farm products under both the above categories are in use, particularly in organic agriculture and as a component of integrated pest management. The market is highly fragmented, being dominated by small scale producers- nearly 150 for 15 registered products. Only 2.5% share out of a total pesticide market of about US$ 675 million is attributed to their use. An annual growth rate of 10–15% has been projected during the next 5 years. Constraints such as an expensive, time consuming and cumbersome regulatory system, difficulties in accessing to the products and the technologies, lack of interest in their promotion on the part of big entrepreneurs, poor coordination between the Federal and the State authorities, non-inclusion in most of the packages of agricultural practices formulated by the States, variable performance under diverse use situations, inadequate quality enforcement, lack of knowledge and awareness amongst the producers as well as the consumers, and others have hindered the desired pace of progress in their adoption and use. This overview attempts a critical appraisal of the multifarious aspects related to the use of biopesticides and suggests a road map to move ahead in future.