SEMINARS on Integrated Pest Management (1PM) as the one held, recently in Dhaka, are cer-ttainly an encouraging sigh for Bangladesh., one of the many developing countries that has ■ relied On imported chemical pesticides for far tio long. The effects of such pesticides are devastating since many of them such as DDT and BHC ’ (benzene hexachloride) contain carcinogens which * have «uch terrible effects as cancer, brain, damage, paralysis ^sterilit/etc. But pest control being vital to ensure- good crops, farmers have had no option but to use these chemicals even though they may have been harmfully affected by thehi. Moreover the continued use of pesticides Results in creating future generations of insects that develop pesticide resistant genes and so are Immune to that particular pesticide. This alarming fact may account for the resurgence of malaria because mosquitoes are resistant to DDT and other Insecticides. ' IPM. therefore could not be mere welcome.

But just what is IPM? According to famous entomological scientist Robert Van Den Bosch. Integrated Pest Control is simply rational pest control: the fitting together of information decision making criteria, methods and materials natu-

rally occurring pest mortality Into effective and redeeming pest-management systems."

An integrated control programme Involves six basic elements : (11 man (2) knowledge/ information (3) monitoring (4) the setting Of action levels and (5) methods and (6) materials.

In his book 'The Pesticide Conspiracy' Bosch states that "integrated control' systems are dynamic, involving contln-. uous information gathering and evaluation which In turn permit flexibility in decision making. alteration of the pathways of action, and variation in the agents us^d.” With the help of information. pesticides, pathogens, parasites and predators, pests are eliminated permanently. Chemical pesticide use does not involve assessment of (he crop ecosystem and the dynamic interplay of plant, pests, climate and natural enemies, all of which Is taken into account in IPM. The end result of IPM. therefore. Is pest control that la both lasting and respectful to the environment.

The first thing that appears synonymous with pest is that most haled Insect — mosquitoes which have made life hell for citizens of Bangladesh as well as many. other countries. The amount of mosquito coll and insecticide

we use. both of which contain harmful carcinogens, is certainly staggering. What is even more frightening is the fact that often it is seen that even after a 'good' spraying of Insecticide the loathsome creatures actually come back to life to torment and continue their vampire-llke activities. Is this not a case of insects becoming pesticide resistant? The same is true of other dreaded creatures like the even more repugnant cockroach.

An example of how IPM can be successfully applied to eradicate mosquitoes is a project in Marin County. California that Bosch refers to in his book. Headed by Dr Allen D Telford, the programme involves population monitoring, reduced pesticide use and breeding-place management. The result has been an amazing 90 per cent reduction in spraying and an overall reduction in the mosquito problem. The most dramatic results were in a two-thousand acre wetland which was a major mosquito producer giving both the people and their livestock a hard time, to put it mildly. The marsh was thus dutifully sprayed by deadly parathion by aircraft five times a year. Dr Telford and his colleagues realised that it was not the marsh's maze of sloughs and channels which were subject

to tidal flushing but potholes created by dummy bombs dropped during World War II. The potholes were not flushed out when rains came and so , retained a lot of stagnant water — the perfect haven for mosquito breeding. A ditching machine was installed to drain out the potholes resulting in a significant reduction of mosquitoes in that area. Parathion Is no larger sprayed on the tparsh and the mosquito problem has disappeared from nearby communities.

This Is Just a small example of how IPM can be adopted to control pests in an effective and safe way. Methods such as the one mentioned can be easily applied in Bangladesh. Crops can be protected from damaging pests through IPM methods without wreaking havoc with the environment and people's health.

As the cold facts of the effects of chemical pesticides become known, it is clear that 1PM is the only way we can save our crops and ourselves It does not. for instance, take Spejlberg-llke genius to envi-sion an earth Invaded by giant deadly flies and humoneous roaches preying on miniscule humans. Serve them right, the environmentalists will dryly state (if they are alive that is), for not adopting IPM.'