oa Integrated pest management as an alternative to chemical pesticides with low environmental impact

During the last four decades, synthetic chemical pesticides have provided many benefits to agriculture and food production, but they pose some hazardous problems to humans, animals and environment. Chemical pesticides leave undesirable residues in food, water and the environment where they are not used properly. It is estimated that one million people are affected by chemical pesticide poisoning every year and more than 20,000 die as a result of being unaware of the risks involved in the handling or use of chemical pesticides.

This study showed that integrated pest management (IPM) was an effective alternative to synthetic chemical pesticides. The study also revealed that the components of IPM, such as cultural practices, biological control, pheromone traps, soil solarization and plant extracts provided cost effective and environmentally sound methods to control agricultural pests and diseases. As a result many growers and researchers are applying an IPM approach to maintain pest populations at levels below those causing economically unacceptable damage or loss.

In addition, this study has identified the use of IPM methods in the Arabian Gulf countries to manage some insects and diseases affecting date palm trees. The main goal of IPM is to reduce any harmful impact chemical pesticides may have on humans, wildlife, soil and water quality. The usage of chemical pesticides in the IPM programme should be rational, judicious and applied at the most vulnerable time in an insect/disease life cycle.