Role of Bio-control Agents in Mulberry Pest Management: Effective Strategies and Key Challenges
Shruthi G. H.
Department of Sericulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Karthik V. C.
Division of Agricultural Statistics, Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, Delhi, India.
B. Karthick Mani Bharathi
Department of Sericulture, FCRI, TNAU, Mettupalayam, India.
Basavaraj A Dodmani *
ICAR- Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India.
Samreen
Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Ramya Harika K
Department of Sericulture, FCRI, TNAU, Mettupalayam, India.
Kishan Kumar R
Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute, Mysuru – 570008, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
There are various benefits of using bio-control agents in mulberry cultivation. By focusing on particular pests without endangering beneficial organisms or harming soil and water resources, bio-control agents contribute to the preservation of ecological balance in the environment. This method minimizes the environmental impact of pest control while still adhering to sustainable agriculture standards. Since bio-control agents are typically non-toxic to people and other non-target organisms like pollinators and wildlife, they also provide safety benefits. Compared to chemical pesticides, which can be harmful to human health and wildlife, this is a huge improvement. In the long run, using bio-control agents can be financially advantageous than the chemicals. The potential of bio-control agents to provide ongoing pest management with little additional expenses makes them a feasible alternative, even though the initial costs of introducing and establishing them may be higher than those of standard chemical treatments. Additionally, bio-control agents can lessen the requirement for conventional pesticides, which might save overall costs associated with pest management and reduce the risk of pesticide resistance.
Keywords: Bio-control, bio-control agents, challenges, mulberry, pest management, strategies