Pest and Pest Management: Crises, Interests and Values Michael Loevinsohn Topics covered  The green revolution

in Asian rice  New way for farming:  Intensification: High yield varieties, fertilizers, pesticides  Responded to food crises- specially in India where imported technology played a very effective role  Alternative approaches emerged and local innovations started to out  The economic status of Peasants strengthened  Widely accepted but farmers used green revolutions elements in wrong way. Farmers did not have knowledge about the right use of pesticides, fertilizer timing, plant spacing etc. Crises-1- Pest and disease outbreaks  Minor insects and viruses attack especially brown planthopper and rice tungro virus  Dominant response- a. genetic modification b. step up pesticide control Crises-2- Consequences of widespread pesticide use  Pollution od aquatic eco systems  Occupational health issues- i.e. toxic chemicals in field conditions where safe use was impossible  Attack of pest increased due to the pesticides use Emerging evidence:  By 1980 s it s clear that pesticide use increase the level of outbreaks of pest and spraying less was economically advantageous  By mid-1980 s poisoning shown to be extensive  Loss of aquatic food resources: under researched Reactions to the evidence  Most of the researchers, politicians, scientists and civil societies completely ignored the evidences and took this issue very lightly.  Response 1- Regulation- some restrictions came into existence to control and ban the use of pesticides but it took lots of time till 1993 highly toxic was not banned.  Response-2- farmer education- Integrated pest management emerged in research and first time farmer learning has been taken in serious way. Farmer field School  First version in Philippines by IRRI

 Adult education and experiential learning added- Indonesia started to train farmers as facilitators who can sustain the trainings.

 Cascading crises  Responses : regulation and farmer education  Relevance to contemporary issues