INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN PAKISTAN: BALANCING CROP PROTECTION, NATURAL PREDATORS, AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Abstract

Pakistani farmers spray large quantities of pesticides every year, although nearly one-third to two-thirds of vegetables contain pesticide residues exceeding permissible limits. Cotton producers confront an even worse crisis pink boll-worm no longer responds to Bt technology, and once-effective herbicides have failed. This is why many farmers are turning to Integrated Pest Management, letting nature do the work. Pakistan presently has many laboratories rearing beneficial insects like Trichogramma wasps, green lacewings, and ladybird beetles for free distribution. Researchers have discovered a wide variety of ladybird species across the country, plus two new parasitic wasps that manage autumn armyworm in maize. Farmers using IPM across Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lowered pesticide use by a considerable proportion while improving yields by a low to moderate percentage. The National IPM Programme has trained over a large number of farmers through numerous field schools. International collaborations also contribute to IPM adoption. The whitefly in citrus orchards decreased pesticide consumption. However, significant challenges remain. Most small farmers cannot identify natural enemies or determine appropriate intervention times. Biological control laboratories meet a minor proportion of farmers’ needs. Climate change disrupts pest–predator dynamics, and weak enforcement allows banned pesticides to be sold. New technology gives hope—smartphone apps spot pests instantaneously, drones spray biopesticides accurately, and climate-resilient IPM packages are being developed. Pakistan needs stronger pesticide laws, IPM taught at every agricultural school, and certification systems that allow consumers to select IPM-grown produce.