Published: 12:54 AM, 26 September 2026
Experts calls for boost up IPM practices
Farm researchers and experts stressed on reinvigorating dissemination of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) technology to promote production of safe food.
Talking to BSS they said the IPM technology, which was introduced in the country long before, still not widely practiced.
The technology can reduce dependency on chemical pesticides ensuring safe and toxic free food production, they noted.
IPM is an eco-friendly farming approach that combines biological, cultural, and mechanical methods to control pests which help reduce chemical pesticide use up to 90 percent in certain crops like rice.
Over 94 percent of farmers in Bangladesh use chemical pesticides with total consumption rising dramatically from around 4,000 tons in the 1970s to over 40,000 tons in recent years, experts said.
Bangladesh formally introduced IPM in agricultural practices in 1981 through collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The framework was later institutionalized when the government formulated the National Integrated Pest Management Policy in 2002.
Aiming at safe food production, the DAE implemented a project titled- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) from 2013 to 2018 across the country.
The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the Planning Ministry published an evaluation report on the project in June this year.
According to the report pesticide use was 20,635 tonnes in 2012, but fell by more than 14% to 14,775 tonnes in 2018.
Successive governments have funded for expanding the IPM nationwide, but for the last three years it's not being used effectively.
"It happened due to knowledge gap among the growers and the agricultural extension officials after expiring the project period," said M MazedurRahman, deputy director (pesticide quality control) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
More than 1.5 lakh farmers, of whom at least 25 percent are women, directly participated in the IPM project. The farmers, who were not part of the project, got encouraged as they came across IPM techniques, said the IMED report.
The IMED report mentioned that 20 percent of the 6,700 field schools set up for the farmers have been closed down due to registration-related complications and lack of monitoring.
The haphazard use chemical fertilizer and pesticides for the last few decades is polluting the soil, water and air, and also creating adverse impact on the biodiversity.
Talking to BSS, Professor DrKhandokerShariful Islam, dean of agriculture faculty of the City University, said indiscriminate use of pesticides, fungicides and other toxic materials regularly on the crops ultimately posing serious health hazard through the residual effect of the chemical in the food chain.
DrShariful, former departmental head of the entomology division of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) said rampant use of pesticides also destroying useful insects of the crop and damaging the ecological balance as well.
Along with the environmental disorder, he said, accumulation of toxic substances in human body over a long period can lead to cancer, neurological and reproductive problems.
Regarding the introduction of IPM practices in Bangladesh, ObaidurRahmanMondol, director of the field service wing of the DAE said the IPM technology is an important biological farm management system for safe agricultural production and safeguarding the environment. But the growers and agricultural officials have no adequate knowledge about the biological techniques.
IPM techniques usually use "sex pheromone traps" to control pests. The trap uses a chemical excreted by female insects to attract the male.
Pest management refers to controlling insects, diseases, germs, worms, fungi and weeds which usually damage crops.
In IPM, farmers opt for organic pest management measures, cultivate pest tolerant varieties and prioritise mechanical and controlled chemical measures.
Under the IPM system farmers use leaves, bitter tree bark, neem extract, mahogany seeds, tobacco leaves and other natural items instead of chemicals and pesticide.
