Management of Pests of Oilseed Crops. In: Pests and Their Management

Abstract

In India the vegetable oil scenario is very complex and is greatly influenced by market forces, vagaries of weather, technology, poor resource base of the farmers, biotic and abiotic stresses. Among biotic stresses, insect pests are major constraints in oilseed production. Pest incidence and their extent of damage varies in time and space and therefore neither there can be a unified Integrated Pest Management package to all situations nor it is easy to develop it. Depending on the local pest problems and their status, cultural practices and climatic conditions, need based strategies are to be evolved. Integration of all the available means of pest control are to be blended in a way which can be practiced by farmers without much difficulty in execution or implementation coupled with maximum monitory benefits and minimal environmental imbalances and pollution. Advances in insect pest management practices in nine annual oilseed crops are discussed in this chapter.