Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Introduction, Definitions and Concepts

Prepared by
Escain Kiwonde
 Introduction and
Definitions
Theoretical definition of IPM
Is a comprehensive approach to dealing with pests
that strive to reduce pest populations to tolerable
levels through the use of methods that maximise
social-economic benefits are environmentally sound
and sustainable.
Practical Definition of IPM
USDA and EPA defined IPM in 1998 saying that, a pest
management strategy should have in place measures
for Prevention, Avoidance, Monitoring and
Suppression.

And for a farm to qualify as an IPM farm, a farmer

should have in place at least 3 of the mentioned
management tactics
Pest
The term pest have got no biological or ecological
meaning.
It simply represent the conflict between an organism and
human economy or health

Thus, pests range from microorganisms, insects, weed to

animals.

Some organisms can act as pests and sometimes as

beneficial organisms. e.g Ants
 IPM Tactics
1. Prevention
Is the process of keeping pests from ever infesting
the crop. Prevention can be achieved through the
following
I. Crop pest free periods
II. Crop rotation
III. Removal of pest reservoir and farm remains
IV. Tillage
IPM tactics…….cont
2. Avoidance
Is practiced when pest population exist in the field but their effects
can be reduced. The following are used as avoidance measures.
I. Genetic engineering of crops e.g Bt Corn.
II. Greenhouses and screenhouses.
III. Enhance or release of natural enemies (predators and
parasitoids) e.g Ants, Wasps and Encarsa formosa
IV. Traps and push pull technologies.
V. Sterile Insect Techniques (SIT) e.g Zanzibar Glossina morsitans
control.
IPM tactics…….cont
3. Monitoring
This is the process of scouting the crop and field to
identify necessary measures for pest control.
It is used to identify Economic Injury Levels (IEL) and
Economic Threshold (ET).
Suppression measures are taken only when the pest
exceed EIL
IPM tactics…….cont
4. Suppression
Suppression is used when all other measures have
failed. It usually means application of a pesticide.

It is important that a pesticide should not harm

beneficial organisms and the environment.
Importance of IPM
I. It is protects the environment
II. It is safer to the farmer
III. It protects consumers from effects of chemical
residue
IV. It increase economic value of crops to compete in
international markets
 THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION

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Moodle with addition reading materials.

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