3. Plant Protection Chemicals

The new seeds are very delicate and highly susceptible to pests and diseases. The irrigated fields enriched with heavy energy input (fertilisers-NPK) create a micro climate (hot and humid) in the field which helps in the fast growth of plants. The same environment is conducive for the fast growth and multiplication of insects and pests. These insects and pests attack the crop, hamper their growth and reduce the yield substantially. The danger of pests and insects may be reduced by using plant protection chemicals. The problem may be tackled either by developing the disease resistant seeds or by spraying insecticides and pesticides at the appropriate time prescribed or advised for different crops.

The problems of crop disease and pests may also be tackled by timely application of insecticides and pesticides. Thus, the farmer must have adequate knowledge of plant disease and their controlling chemicals. At the outbreak of a disease in the crop, the entire area should be sprayed. If the timely spray of the insecticides and pesticides is not done, the crop of the entire village/region may vanish. Since the plant protection chemicals are quite expensive, and often adultrated, they are generally out of reach of the small and marginal farmers. And if the crops by small and marginal farmers are not sprayed, the insects may creep in the neighbouring fields and the disease may adversely affect the larger area. At present plant protection is available to only 34 per cent of the total cropped area (2009-2010).