Success Stories of Biological Success Stories of Biological Control b.

Preparation and use of

vermicompost: Vermicompost is
Control G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology
has been pioneer in research and popularization of
more nutritious than traditionally
used undecomposed FYM and gets
biological control of plant diseases in India. In 2006, ready in lesser time. It reduces the
Government of India declared Biocontrol Lab, Pantnagar cost of production, increases plant health and
as ‘Central Insecticide Lab’ in respect of biopesticides improves fertility and water holding capacity of
(The Gazette of India G.S.R. 756(E); No. 17-6/2006- the soil.
PP.I). Four formulations of biocontrol agents have been
developed for the control of for the management of plant
c. Use of bioagents: They are a
pathogenic microorganisms viz., Pant Bio-control Agent -
1 (T. harzianum), Pant Bio-control Agent 2 (P.
better alternative by virtue of
fluorescens), Pant Bio-control Agent -3 (consortium of T. being environment friendly, cost
harzianum+P. fluorescens) and Pant Bio-control Agent -4 effective, safe for humans and
(consortium of two strains of P. fluorescens). animals and improving soil health.
Under All India Coordinated Research Project on
Biological Control, large scale demonstrations on Bioagents could be used in one of the following
Biocontrol technologies were conducted at farmers’ fields ways:
Roopali Sharma in distt. U.S.Nagar & Nainital. Capacity building and i. Seed treatment through biopriming: Seeds are
B.C. Kabdwal awareness creation amongst the farmers was carried out mixed with the formulated BCAs @ of 8-10g/kg
and incubate under moist conditions for 24 to 48h
J. Kumar by demonstrating the method of application of bio-
before sowing.
pesticides in crops, distribution of inputs, trainings,
gosthies and regular visits at farmers field. For ii. Rhizome treatment: Rhizomes dipped in solution
popularizing the benefits of biocontrol agents, more than of bioagent (@ 8-10 gram/ liter water) for 30
250 quintals of quality biocontrol agent was mass minutes, dried in shade and planted.
produced in Biocontrol Lab, and distributed to practicing iii. Seedling treatment: Before transplanting roots of
farmers. Through the adoption of biocontrol technologies seedlings dipped in solution of bioagents @ 8-10
farmers were able to reduce their cost of production g/ liter for about 30 minutes.
2019 substantially and minimized losses due to pests and iv. Spray: @ 8-10 g/ liter on standing crop at 10-12
diseases resulting in increased benefit-cost ratio and a days intervals.
healthy crop. v. Drench: @ 8-10 g/ liter in soil in the nurseries
from time to time.
Department of Plant Pathology Technologies demonstrated
1. A Common Minimum Programme with d. Value addition of
College of Agriculture following interventions: vermicompost: Before use
a. Plastic mulching (Soil vermicompost is supplemented
GBPUA&T, Pantnagar-263145 solarization) of nursery beds: It is with bioagents @ 1kg/q. This
District- Udham Singh Nagar a low-cost technique to reduce increases the nutritive value of
losses due to soil borne insect pests the compost and facilitates rapid spread of bioagents
Uttarakhand, INDIA and diseases of the nursery. in the soil.
2. Seed Biopriming as chemical pesticides costing about Rs. 8000 per Mr. Chandrashekhar Kabadwal
A seed biopriming season. After getting to the attach Biocontrol belonging to Dhanpur village of
method was developed for the programme, Mr. Joshi started cultivation of tomato Nainital District is doing
application of Trichoderma and cabbage which resulted in reduction of his conventional farming in about 2.5
and Pseudomonas. This dependence on chemical pesticides. For tomato ha agricultural land. He
method ensures uniform seed cultivation he practices soil solarization during participated in training programme
germinations and enhances nursery bed preparation and uses biocontrol agents for in 2009 and was highly influenced
Colonization of seed by this technique. According to Mr. Kabdwal by the use
efficacy of biocontrol agents surface by Trichoderma
seed, root and soil treatments. Now the use of
against root and seed borne harzianum chemical pesticides is very less. As a result, he earns of information given during the training programmes and
diseases. an additional income of Rs. 20,000 by the use of this through the advice of specialist on specific problems the
3. Improved method for mass multiplication of technology in tomato crop only. use of chemical pesticides has reduced to less than half.
bioagents (at farmer’s level) He is using about 200 Q vermicomopost per year.
Colonization of FYM, poultry manure, press According to him, he is using the biocontrol agents being
mud by Trichoderma and/or Pseudomonas at farmers produced in Biocontrol Lab in Pantnager University for
level is recommoned. Such compost acts both as seeds, seedlings and standing crop treatments and he is
biofertilizer & biopesticide. Content of water soluble enriching the compost by incorporating biocontrol agents
humic matter, Phosphorus and micronutrients is in vermicompost. Mr. Kabdwal never forgets to
higher in colonized compost than non-colonized. disseminate information about this technique to other
fellow farmers.
Experiences shared by some Farmers
Mr. Indal Singh Mehta is
Mr. Rebhader Joshi is a native the native of Devla Malla village of
of Bakullia village of district Nainital. Golapaar area of Naintal district.
He grows rice, wheat, tomato and Mr. Hemant Singh Bisht is He is growing vegetables in about
cabbage in his one acre agricultural native of Nathupur village of district four acre land with major crops
land. After adopting biointensive Nainital and is associated with like tomato, ginger and pea. He is
technologies for farming within three Biocontrol programme in 2009 He associated with Biocontrol programme since years.
years, the input of chemical fertilizers grows tomato, cabbage, brinjal, rice, According to him, he used to spend about Rs. 20000-25000
is now reduced to 50 kg per year. The expenditure on mustard, wheat, sugarcane and pea in per year on inorganic pesticides and fertilizers but after
chemical pesticides which was Rs. 5000 per year about 2.5 hectare agricultural land. Earlier he used adopting the Biocontrol programme, the same amount has
earlier is now reduced to Rs. 3000 per year. Now he more chemical pesticides and chemical fertilizers for reduced to Rs. 3000-4000 per year during the last five
uses more vermicompost and bioagents than earlier. crop production. Mr. Bisht attended various training years. Now he uses biocontrol agents, cowurine and
He has his own vermipits for vermicompost programme organized under the AICRP. He is using vermicompost up to its maximum extent on his agricultural
preparation. about 60q vermicompoist per year which is being land with the result that he is getting the healthy produce.
Mr. Girish Chandra Joshi of produced at his own farms. The use of inorganic
Kishanpur Shakullia village of fertilizers in vegetables is almost negiligible. He uses Published by
Nanital district practices farming in biocontrol agents (approx. 60 kg per year). According BIOCONTROL LAB
approximate 3 acre agricultural land. to him he is earning an additional income of Rs. Department of Plant Pathology
Mr. Joshi grows rice and wheat 50,000 after getting attached with this programme. He College of Agricultrue
only under subsistence farming. He is disseminating the information given to him by the GBPUA&T, Pantnagar- 263 145
uses about 2q Urea, 2q DAP as well scientist in his nearby area also. Distt.- Udham Singh Nagar (Uttarakhand)