Biopest control
Also called: Biological pest control · Topic: Environment and Sustainable Development · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Environment and Sustainable Development"
Meaning
Biopest control means fighting crop pests with natural methods instead of chemical pesticides. The Green Revolution's heavy pesticide use got into food, soil, rivers and groundwater, and even milk, meat and fish. Biopest control avoids this poisoning and keeps the farm's natural balance intact.
Example
There are three main methods. Farmers can spray neem-based pesticides. They can use mixed cropping (growing several crops together) and crop rotation (changing the crop each season), which make it harder for pests to spread. They can also protect natural predators: snakes eat rats and mice, owls and peacocks eat other small pests, and lizards eat insects.
Don't confuse with
- Integrated pest management (IPM): a wider approach that combines biological, cultural and mechanical methods and also allows chemicals when truly needed. Biopest control avoids chemicals altogether.
Related concepts
- Traditional knowledge
- Vermicomposting
- Integrated pest management
- Organic farming
- Organic food
- Natural farming
- Zero budget natural farming
- Conservation agriculture
- Zero tillage
- Direct seeded rice