Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(6): 2504-2511 2504 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.706.297 Integrated Pest Management in Rice and its Future Scope Mukesh Sehgal 1 , Meenakshi Malik 1* , R.V. Singh 1 , A.K. Kanojia 1 and Avinash Singode 2 1 ICAR- National Research Centre for Integrated Pest Management, New Delhi-110012, India 2 ICAR- Indian Institute of Millets Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500030, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Rice, being the principal food for majority of the overall human population plays a crucial role in the Indian economy and livelihood. It is the agricultural commodity with the third- highest worldwide production (rice, 741.5 million tonnes in 2014), after sugarcane (1.9 billion tonnes) and maize (1.0 billion tonnes). However, modern high yielding varieties (HYVs) were developed and introduced during the mid 1960s which could cope up with a range of biotic and abiotic stress. These varieties were photo-insensitive and could be cultivated in nontraditional areas also. Further, the farmers started growing the varieties of crop with different genetic backgrounds in a mosaic fashion, meaning existence of several varieties in the field during the crop season with low or no fertilizer use probably, which was the major reason for the maintenance of pest populations at low level. Insect-pests are International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 06 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Prior to the introduction of the modern varieties, the rice crop survived for centuries with traditional varieties with robust plant type but low yield. The farmers started applying higher doses of fertilizers in general and nitrogen in particular as these varieties were fertilizer responsive and these changes in rice cultivation resulted in an altered micro- climate, which led to the accentuation of the insect pest and disease problems. Many diseases such as sheath blight, sheath rot, false smut and leaf scald have become severe in several parts of the country. Yield-losses ranging from 21 to 51 percent have been estimated due to moderate to serious incidence of stem borer, gall midge, plant-hoppers and other sporadic pests in the rice growing areas of the country. To overcome the biotic constraints mainly pests and diseases for realizing yield potential of rice, development of suitable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy is important. But as the farmers have been mostly confident on chemical control for managing the pests, it has become imperative to develop a holistic system of tackling pests, which is environment-friendly, economically viable and socially acceptable. Time, money, patience, short- and long-term planning, flexibility and commitment are required for any IPM programme to be successful. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Department of Agricultural Research and Education of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, are focused on the development and promotion of IPM in the country. It is the topmost priority of the ICAR and the Government of India to provide safer and effective technologies to protect against unacceptable losses due to insect pests, weeds and diseases. Keywords IPM, Rice, Pests, Diseases, Biotic Constraints, Pesticides, Fertilizers, Farmers Accepted: 20 May 2018 Available Online: 10 June 2018 Article Info