IPM: Integrated Management of Insects, Diseases and Weeds in common bean

Smart Solutions for Safer Farming

Integrated Management of Insects, Diseases, and Weeds (IPM) is an agricultural practice designed to address the challenges posed by pests, diseases, and weeds in common bean cultivation. It provides a holistic approach to crop protection while prioritizing environmental sustainability and food safety. IPM focuses on maintaining a well-balanced ecosystem of beneficial organisms and employs a diverse set of biological, mechanical, physical, and cultural methods to achieve effective and long-lasting protection against pests and diseases. This technology aims to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides, promoting natural control mechanisms, and ensuring crop productivity and food security. IPM can be adapted to various soil types and climatic conditions, making it a versatile and environmentally responsible solution for common bean growers.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

7•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 7/9; level of use 7/9

Cost: $$$ 5,000 USD

Installation of rearing colonies of parasitoid wasps

6,000 USD

Operation cost per year

0.5 - 1 USD

Coating 1kg of seed

25 - 35 USD/Ha

Pre-emergence herbicides

IP

Open source / open access

Problem

Pest and Disease Susceptibility: Common beans are susceptible to various pests and diseases, which can significantly reduce productivity.
Inappropriate Pesticide Use: The use of chemical pesticides poses health and environmental risks and can lead to the development of pesticide-resistant pest biotypes.
Food Insecurity and Income Loss: Failure to manage pests and diseases effectively can result in food insecurity and loss of income for bean growers.
Distorted Natural Control Mechanisms: Overreliance on chemical pesticides can disrupt natural control mechanisms in the ecosystem.

Solution

Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A holistic approach combining various methods to protect crops and reduce the need for chemical pesticides.
Reduced Chemical Pesticide Use: Aims to minimize pesticide usage, reducing health and environmental risks and preventing pesticide-resistant pests.
Balanced Beneficial Organism Populations: Focuses on maintaining balanced populations of beneficial organisms through understanding their life cycles and interactions with the environment.
Diverse Techniques: Encompasses various strategies, including natural predator release, sterile insect release, mechanical interventions, and cultural practices for pest, disease, and weed management.
Protection Against Multiple Threats: Effectively addresses different threats, such as disease-transmitting aphids, offering solutions for common bean pests, diseases, and weeds.
Adaptability: Applicable across various soil and climate conditions, with adaptable techniques for local contexts.
Minimized Chemical Applications: Reduces chemical use through methods like seed coating and pre-emergent herbicides, promoting safer and eco-friendly pest and disease management.

Key points to design your business plan

Using IPM contributes to sustainability by reducing chemical pesticide usage and promoting biodiversity conservation, thereby enhancing ecosystem health and resilience. Additionally, it improves crop productivity, ensures food security, and reduces pesticide-related health risks.

For the cost structure, consider the following:

Rearing colonies of parasitoid wasps requires inexpensive materials, with installation costs of around US $5,000 and an additional operating cost of US $6,000 per year.
Coating seed with insecticide and fungicide ranges from US $0.50 to $1 per kilogram.
Pre-emergence herbicides cost approximately US $25 to $35 per hectare.

Training is crucial for proper implementation, as it ensures effective use of IPM practices. Permits from national plant health agencies are necessary for the rearing and release of biocontrol technology. Additionally, intellectual property rights associated with fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides must be considered, as they are commercially owned.

To effectively implement IPM, collaboration with development institutions, agro-input suppliers, local service providers, and agricultural extension services is essential. Lastly, estimating the profitability of IPM adoption is vital for assessing its economic benefits.

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

IPM promotes safer farming practices by emphasizing non-chemical pest control methods, reducing the potential health risks associated with pesticide exposure for adults involved in agriculture

The poor: Positive medium

IPM provide long-term cost savings by reducing dependence on expensive chemical pesticides.

Under 18: Positive medium

By reducing pesticide reliance, IPM protects the long-term health of children and minimizes risks associated with chemical exposure during development.

Women: Positive medium

This supports family well-being and potentially enhances women’s roles in sustainable agricultural practices.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

By promoting practices like crop diversification and the use of pest-resistant varieties, IPM supports crops in adapting to climate variability.

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

By promoting resilient, sustainable practices like pest-resistant crops, natural pest control, improved soil health, and reduced chemical dependency.

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

IPM practices help maintain and even enhance biodiversity by preserving beneficial organisms such as pollinators, natural predators, and soil microbes.

Carbon footprint: Much less carbon released

IPM reduces the reliance on chemical pesticides, leading to less contamination of soil, water, and air.

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

By reducing the use of pesticides and herbicides, IPM prevents chemical residues from accumulating and harming local flora and fauna.

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

This approach encourages practices that reduce erosion and maintain soil organic matter, leading to healthier soils with enhanced nutrient availability, water retention, and resilience against drought and flooding.

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Benin	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Burundi	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Cameroon	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Central African Republic	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Côte d’Ivoire	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Malawi	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Mozambique	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Senegal	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
South Sudan	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Togo	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Uganda	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–		–
Semiarid	–		–
Subhumid		–		–
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

By improving crop resilience and reducing pest-related losses, IPM enhances food security and supports sustainable agricultural productivity.

Goal 13: climate action

By enhancing natural pest control and promoting adaptable farming practices

Goal 3: good health and well-being

IPM minimizes chemical pesticide use, lowering health risks for farmers and communities exposed to agrochemicals.

Goal 12: responsible production and consumption

IPM encourages the responsible use of natural resources by promoting sustainable pest management practices.

The technology strategies involves several steps:

1. Identification and Thresholds

Begin by identifying the type and number of harmful and beneficial organisms on the farm.
Establish critical thresholds in the community structure when economic injury to common bean crops occurs.

2. Monitoring and Surveillance

Monitor pests using simple tools such as traps, handheld magnifying glasses, or advanced high-resolution cameras mounted on drones for rapid surveillance over large areas.
Inspect weeds between emergence and canopy closure, as well as post-harvest to prevent carry-over.

3. Insect and Disease Surveys

Conduct insect and disease surveys simultaneously.
Repeat surveys at different growth stages, including emergence, early flowering, and pod filling.

4. Utilizing Software Tools

Use software tools and participate in specialized social media platforms to track and identify pests and natural enemies.
Refine IPM strategies based on data and insights obtained.

5. Threshold-Based Actions

When the threshold population of harmful organisms is reached, implement prescribed actions.
Avoid precautionary spraying with agro-chemicals and instead focus on specific IPM strategies tailored to the situation.

Last updated on 6 November 2024