Cabbage (Brassica olearaceae var. capitata) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) are two major
vegetables produced and consumed in India. Over the years, they have been cultivated more intensively. This
has resulted in higher rates of pest infestation, especially by the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) and
higher pesticide use. This, in turn, has contributed to insecticide resistance, environmental degradation, and
human health impacts, which have triggered a growing interest in alternative management techniques.
There is a dearth of knowledge on current pest management practices in cabbage and crucifer. Knowledge
about pest management practices is necessary to develop appropriate strategies such as Integrated Pest
Management. The main purpose of this study was to obtain comprehensive information on pest
management practices among farmers growing cabbage and cauliflower in India.
A survey was conducted in the states of Gujarat, West Bengal, and Karnataka from October 2006 through
January 2007. Three hundred farmers were interviewed to obtain information on pesticide use in cabbage
and cauliflower production, the cost of pesticide use, and socioeconomic characters that influence cabbage
and cauliflower production.
Farmers relied on pesticides as the major and often exclusive crop protection strategy. Ten of the active
ingredients (16.4% of all pesticides reported by all farmers in this survey) were listed as extremely or highly
hazardous (classes Ia and Ib) by the World Health Organization. The results confirmed that pesticide use
differs between states of India, but that location alone does not determine pesticide spraying pattern. A
regression model was used to identify determinants of pesticide application frequency and pesticide cost per
hectare. After controlling for location, individual level variables, such as age, education and experience, had
significant effects on how often farmers sprayed. Farmers also spent more for pesticides, and sprayed more
frequently on cauliflower than on cabbage and on open-pollinated varieties than on hybrid varieties.
Our findings highlight the excessive use of pesticides in cabbage and cauliflower, and the reliance on
pesticides as the only pest management strategy. The results confirm the need for alternative management
strategies. Bt vegetables may be one of these alternative strategies. However, it is questionable whether
cultivation of Bt vegetables will reduce the strong reliance on pesticides. Small-scale farmers will need
training in the identification of pests, natural enemies, basic ecology, and integrated pest management
strategies to ensure sustainable and safe vegetable production.
© Korean Society of Applied Entomology, Taiwan Entomological Society and Malaysian Plant Protection
Society, 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.