Bio Pesticides Application Methods

Mango farmers in Bangladesh face numerous pest problems such as fruit flies, mealy bugs, hoppers, and mites. The peak incidence is observed during the full bloom stage, after which the insects migrate to the cracks and crevices of the trunk. To combat these issues, most farmers resort to conventional insecticides, incurring unnecessary expenses, production costs, environmental pollution, and a decline in the population of beneficial insects and pollinators.

Excessive pesticide use has been identified as a serious issue in the project region. There is an evident need for organic farming to minimize the reliance on chemical pesticides for sustainable mango production. The SEP project has undertaken several initiatives to address these challenges for mango growers. This includes providing field-level training to enhance farmers' skills, encouraging the adoption of sustainable agricultural products, and connecting local farmers and input suppliers with service providers offering a range of safe agricultural products. Additionally, the SEP project is working towards establishing local-level service providers. Two bio-pesticide production centers have already been set up in Sapahar and Niamatpur upazilas, producing valuable bio-pesticides like "Maranasro," "Brahmasro," and "Jivamrata.

As a result of these interventions, mango farmers in the project area are becoming increasingly aware of the harmful effects of pesticides, leading to a steady rise in the use of bio-pesticides. According to mango grower Md. Bakul Hossain, after mango budding, growers typically apply fungicides and insecticides to prevent insect attacks and bud drop. However, due to low rainfall and chemical use, a significant portion of the buds in most orchards drop. On the advice of project officials, I produced "Brahmasra" and sprayed it in my 10-bigha mango orchard during the flowering period. Consequently, I observed that none of the buds in my orchard dropped. He further emphasized the need for greater promotion of these bio-pesticides at both government and private levels to further enhance their utilization."