pmis-okra

About pmis-okra

Okra is one of the most important vegetable crop, affected by many pests causing significant yield loss. In spite of regular spraying of insecticides, these pests cause 30 to 40 % yield losses. To mitigate the losses due to pests, a huge quantity of pesticides is used by the farmers in Okra crop. In the absence of an effective alternative method, they are over-dependent on chemicals for pest control, which not only degrades the environment but also affects the human health due to presence of pesticide residue in the fruits. Best alternate to chemical based pest control is integrated pest management (IPM) technology. IPM combines several ecologically safer pest control strategies for pest management, which helps in reduction of pesticide usage and thus saves the environment and human health. IPM being knowledge intensive approach, which emphasizes appropriate decision-making and depends heavily on accurate and timely availability of information/knowledge for field implementation. More often, extension workers and farmer relies on plant protection experts for accessing pest management information/knowledge. Unfortunately, experts are not available for consultation at a point of time when they need them.

In last one decade, Mobile technology has quickly become the most common way of transmitting information and services in the country. Its density has increased tremendously and have reached every nook and corner of the country. Mobile apps have become most easy and affordable tool for instant information and service delivery. Therefore, application of mobile for pest management could provide the most affordable means for millions of farmers to timely access correct information, previously unavailable to them. In this context, ICAR-NCIPM, New Delhi has developed PMIS for Okra app, a pest management decision-support tool to cater the needs of master trainers, KVKs, extension workers and farmers.

[email protected]
ICAR-National Research Centre for Integrated Pest Management, Lal Bahadur Shastri Building, Pusa Campus, New Delhi-110012