IND/09/037 - Small scale production of biopesticides (Trichogramma)

Country India
Total project budget ($USD) $6,000
Requested funding ($USD) $5,822
20/07/2009
Project development type Agriculture Production
Name of Requesting Association Satkarya Social Service Society
Objective: To establish a biopesticide unit for the production of Trichogramma in order to reduce the use of chemical pesticides in the village Sadhanavaari Palem.
Background: The indiscriminate and unscientific use of pesticides has led to many problems such as pests developing resistance, resurgence of pests, and environmental and food safety hazards. In addition chemical pesticides have adverse effects on non-target organisms such as pollinators, parasitoids, predators and wild animals. In view of the several disadvantages associated with the uncontrolled use of pesticides in agriculture, there is an urgent need for minimizing the use of chemical pesticides in the management of insect pests. Among the alternatives, biological pest control is one of the important methods to address pest problems in almost all agro-ecological situations. Though there are currently several biopesticide production units existing in the country, these are only able to meet the demand of less than 1% of cropped area. This wide gap can only be bridged by setting up more units for production of biopesticides. The major advantages of establishing a biopesticide unit are: they are cost effective they complement and supplement other methods of pest control; they are environmental-friendly; no harmful residues. By considering above points the requesting group would like to establish a small scale biopesticide unit for the production of Trichogramma which will be used for the control of rice stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas), rice leaf folder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis), tobacco caterpiller (Spodoptera litura), gram caterpillar (Helicoverpa armigera), and red hairy caterpillar (Amsacta albistriga) in rice, groundnut, red gram, cotton and castor, the major crops grown in the village. The farmers will be trained by an entomologist in Trichogramma rearing techniques. The beneficiaries (farmers) will contribute in terms of labour as there is a need for a number of labourers at each stage of production. The supply of the products will be carried out by the beneficiaries, and they will also sell the products to other farmers in the village and to farmers of the adjacent villages. For the long term some of the beneficiaries will be trained for training other farmers in the production of Trichogramma.
Use of Funds: The funds will be used for the purchase of equipment (incubator, UV chamber, exhaust fans, air conditioner, refrigerator, grinder/blender, insect rearing cages, mating chambers, parasitization jars, wire mesh, mosquito nets, etc.) which is necessary for the production of biological control organisms.
Beneficiaries: 50