Technologies

Organic pest management [Nepal]

Creation: 06/07/2011 6:08 p.m.
Update: 06/03/2019 4:05 p.m.
Compiler: Richard Allen
Editor: –
Reviewers: David Streiff, Alexandra Gavilano

Jaibik rogkira byabasthapan (Nepali)

technologies_1755 - Nepal

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Completeness: 65%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:

Richard Allen

SLM specialist:

Director

Soil Management Directorate, Department of Agriculture

Nepal

SLM specialist:

Team Leader

Sustainable Soil Management Programme

Nepal

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Sustainable Soil Management Programme, Nepal (SSMP)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Department of Agriculture, Soil Management Directorate, Hariharbhawan Lalitpur (doasoil) - Nepal

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

HELVETAS (Swiss Intercooperation)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

Farmer field schools on integrated plant nutrient systems [Nepal]

Participatory and collaborative learning through the farmer field school approach

Compiler: Richard Allen
01/19/2009 midnight

Farmer-led experimentation [Nepal]

Participatory technology testing and adaptation through farmer-led experiments

Compiler: Richard Allen
02/19/2009 midnight

Farmer-to-farmer diffusion [Nepal]

Wider diffusion of sustainable soil management technologies through a demand responsive farmer-to-farmer diffusion approach

Compiler: Richard Allen
01/19/2009 midnight

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Promotion of botanical pesticides for organic pest management and liquid manure

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Production of fresh vegetable is often hampered by pests which may reduce production and badly affect farmers’ income. Chemical pesticides are available and are used, sometimes excessively, to combat these pests in parts of Nepal’s midhills. Botanical pesticides prepared from a variety of plant ingredients soaked and fermented in cattle urine provide a suitable alternative to chemical pesticides, at least for subsistence and semi-commercial vegetable producers. These pesticides are based on farmer’s traditional knowledge and are emerging as alternatives to the application of chemical pesticides.
All the ingredients for these pesticides are available locally; in some cases the plants are considered as weeds. Crofton weed (banmara) grows in abundance along roads and paths, and on forest floors and suppresses the growth of other more valuable species. It is believed to have pesticidal effects and is often used in botanical pesticides. The Nepali names of other plants commonly used in the tonics are asuro (malabara tree), titepati (mugwort), bakaino (Persian lilac), timur (Nepali pepper), patina (field mint), tulsi (sweet basil), neem, sisnu (stinging nettle), ketuke (century plant), and khirro (tallow tree). In general it is said that herbs and plants that are bitter, pungent, or ‘hot’ or that produce a strong odour are most effective in botanical pesticides.
The botanical pesticide is diluted with water before applying to vegetable crops. The dilution ratio depends on the age and type of the plant being treated with a higher dilution for seedlings in nurseries than for mature plants. While botanical pesticides do not kill all pests, they do combat soft-bodied insects such as aphids and act as a repellent against larger insects like cutworms, various larvae, and red ants. They are not usually effective against plant diseases.
In some places innovative farmers have started to produce and sell botanical pesticides for pest management and as a liquid manure for foliar application.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

Media Gallery

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Nepal

Further specification of location:

Midhills districts of Nepal

Specify the spread of the Technology:

evenly spread over an area

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

Cheaper pest management

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Cropland

Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

vegetables - other

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Intensifying cultivation practices and the increasing demand for fresh and off-season vegetables have increased the incidence of pests. These pests are controlled mainly by chemical pesticides where available, and where they are not available entire crops can be destroyed and farmers’ livelihoods endangered.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

integrated pest and disease management (incl. organic agriculture)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

management measures

M7: Others

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

reduce land degradation

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: low

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: reduction in application of chemical pesticides, reduction in application of chemicalfertilisers

Secondary technical functions: supplementary irrigation

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

per Technology area

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

2.00

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Different plants with pesticidal properties are collected and chopped into small pieces. Only tenderparts should be used to facilitate decomposition.
2.	Other materials like ginger powder, green chilli, ash, and mustard cake are mixed with the chopped plant material
3.	The material is placed in a plastic drum or earthen pot and soaked in cattle urine at the rate of about one kilogramme of solid material per 2 litres of cattle urine.
4.	The drum is close as air-tight as possible and put in a shady place.

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour	Persons/day	2.0	2.0	4.0	100.0
Equipment	Drum	pieces	1.0	6.0	6.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					10.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					10.0

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	The botanical pesticide needs to be stirred with a wooden stick about every 15 days.
2.	The prepared pesticide is normally ready for field application after about 35-40 days of fermentation/preservation.
3.	The pesticide is diluted with water 1:4 (1 part pesticide solution: 4 parts water) for mature plants and 1:8 for nurseries and applied with a jug, sprayer, or broom.

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

Cost as in January 2007

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall

< 250 mm
251-500 mm
501-750 mm
751-1,000 mm
1,001-1,500 mm
1,501-2,000 mm
2,001-3,000 mm
3,001-4,000 mm
> 4,000 mm

Specifications/ comments on rainfall:

Annual rainfall: Also 2000-3000 mm

Agro-climatic zone

humid

Thermal climate class: subtropics

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:

flat (0-2%)
gentle (3-5%)
moderate (6-10%)
rolling (11-15%)
hilly (16-30%)
steep (31-60%)
very steep (>60%)

Landforms:

plateau/plains
ridges
mountain slopes
hill slopes
footslopes
valley floors

Altitudinal zone:

0-100 m a.s.l.
101-500 m a.s.l.
501-1,000 m a.s.l.
1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
> 4,000 m a.s.l.

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Slopes on average: Also moderate (6-10%), rolling (11-15%) and hilly (16-30%)

Landforms: Also footslopes

Altitudinal zone: Also 1000-1500 m a.s.l., 1500-2000 m a.s.l. and 2000-2500 m a.s.l.

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Market orientation of production system:

mixed (subsistence/ commercial)

Individuals or groups:

individual/ household

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Off-farm income specification: In most farm households off-farm income plays at least a minor and increasingly a major role. Occasional opportunities for off-farm income present themselves in the form of daily labour wages. Some households’ members receive regular salaries whilst an increasing number of Nepalis are working in India, the Middle East, Malaysia and elsewhere and sending remittance incomes home.

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

< 0.5 ha
0.5-1 ha
1-2 ha
2-5 ha
5-15 ha
15-50 ha
50-100 ha
100-500 ha
500-1,000 ha
1,000-10,000 ha
> 10,000 ha

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

individual, not titled
individual, titled

Land use rights:

leased
individual

Comments:

Sharecropping between owner and tenant

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased

decreased

workload

increased

decreased

Comments/ specify:

Labor- intensive preparation of botanical pesticides. Need to be prepared fresh for each crop, therefore demanding labor often at inconvenient times

Other socio-economic impacts

Pest incedence and destruction of crops

increased

decreased

Crop health

reduced

improved

Comments/ specify:

due to additional fertilizer

Organicproduction of crops

reduced

improved

Socio-cultural impacts

Social prestige as use shows user to be a progressive farmer

decreased

increased

Acceptance of the fertilizer

reduced

improved

Comments/ specify:

May not be accepted due to urine in the mixture ( especially if human urine is used)

Ecological impacts

Other ecological impacts

Application of agrochemcals

improved

reduced

Soil biology health

reduced

improved

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

groundwater/ river pollution

increased

reduced

Comments/ specify:

Reduction of chemical pesticide contamination of water bodies

Dependence on oncostly external inputs

improved

reduced

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

positive

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

Comments on spontaneous adoption: It is adopted by small to medium scale, 50% of SSMP trained/organised groups and 10% of local farmers from outside the SSMP groups were using the technology.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Organic pest management using botanical pesticides reduce the expense of pest control How can they be sustained / enhanced? Further promote the benefits of organic pest management
Organic pest management reduces the negative impact of chemical pesticides How can they be sustained / enhanced? Further promote the benefits of organic pest management

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Labour intensive preparation often at inconvenient times as the botanical pesticide has to be prepared fresh for each crop and can only be stored for a limited amount of time	Develop methods that reduce labour requirements and highlight possibilities for bulk production and adequate storage without losing effectiveness
The reagents that are effective in the botanical pesticides have not been identified	Carry out applied research into the different reagents and their effect on different pests
The botanical pesticides are not effective against all pests	Carry out applied research into and document the effects of different botanical pesticides on different pests