Integrated Disease Management: Need for Climate-resilient Technologies

Abstract

Effect of climate change on agriculture or more precisely on insect pests and diseases of agricultural crops is multidimensional. Magnitude of this impact could vary with the type of species and their growth patterns. The elevated agricultural production could be off-set partly or by plant pathogens. It is, therefore, important to consider all the biotic components under the changing pattern of climate. Research world over on the effect of climate change on diseases of crops is inadequate. Several diseases have been noted to be showing higher levels of infestation on different field and horticultural crops in India, which have been discussed. The article also looks at different strategies to cope with effects of climate change on diseases of crops with a proposal for Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS) for Crop Protection Services that suggests the operational focus, research priorities and aspects of capacity building, apart from the thrust on climate-resilient technologies.