The role of crop protection in sustainable crop production
Pollard, G.V. (West Indies Univ. St. Augustine (Trinidad and Tobago). Faculty of Agriculture)
Many countries in both the developing and the developed world have experienced significant increased growth in crop production over the past three to four decades. Such growth in Asia and Latin America has mainly been due to the more widespread use of improved varieties, particularly of wheat and rice, as well as vegetables and maize. However, the high inputs (viz. pesticides and fertilizers) required by these improved varieties to produce maximum yield, lead eventually to unsustainability of these production systems. Reduction in pesticide use and the consequent implementation of new Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies can contribute to more sustainable production. Such new strategies include the use of microbial pesticides, botanical compounds and biotechnologically derived measures such as transgenic resistant plants. It is expected that all these newer technologies will be utilized by farmers in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean as they become more available and economical.
اظهر المزيد [+] اقل [-]