In modern agriculture, usage of pesticides and chemical fertilizers have become unavoidable for farmers to increase production, so that they can withstand the economic crisis and growing demand. However, using chemical pesticides do have their hidden dangers. Chemical pesticides may help farmers to control pest in the farm, but may kill pests that could do good for soil fertility. Also, usage of chemical pesticides would definitely affect farmer’s health. This will ultimately lead to lose their savings to hospital.

Residues of pesticides can be found in a great variety of everyday foods and beverages, including instance cooked meals, water, wine, fruit juices, refreshments, and animal feeds. Furthermore, it should be noted that washing and peeling cannot completely remove the residues in the majority of cases, the concentrations do not exceed the legislatively determined safe levels. Pesticides residues have also been detected in human breast milk samples, and there are concerns about prenatal exposure and health effects in children.

The numerous negative health effects that have been associated with chemical pesticides include, among other effects, dermatological, gastrointestinal, neurological, carcinogenic, respiratory, reproductive, and endocrine effects. Furthermore, high occupational, accidental, or intentional exposure to pesticides can result in hospitalization and death.

Chemical Pesticides & their dis-advantages in Agriculture

The chemicals used in most pesticides can kill pests that helps to enrich soil fertility, i.e., they can kill the helpful organisms that live in the soil. Some of these chemicals can remain in the soil for years, effectively keeping necessary micro-organisms from working the soil.

Organic and bio pesticides are the sustainable methods of improving soil fertility and getting high yield in long - term. By using organic and bio pesticides, farmers can reduce the investment gradually and get good yield with less time.

Farmers need to break the habit of using harmful pesticides and switch to using bio and organic ones that break down quickly in the sunlight and in the soil. The faster a chemical breaks down, the sooner the soil can return to a healthy state. Most bio pesticides are also safe to use around people and pets. They can easily be washed from fruits and vegetables making them healthier for you and your family to eat.

That’s why AMR Foundation is very concerned in microorganism, natural pest enemy, human health, eco system and farmer’s health. We categorized four level of pest and disease attack in agriculture. We are selectively promoting bio and organic pesticides to control pest and increase the yield, without affecting the other micro-organisms that help to enrich soil fertility.

Level 1: Soil Borne Disease

Soil borne diseases are also highly dynamic, responding opportunistically to changes in the soil environment and potential local host plants.Diseases in the field include pre and post-emergence

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damping-off, like pathogens, Fusarium, Pythium and Rhizoctonia species, root rot, including Phytophthora, root-knot nematodes Diagnosis of a soil borne disease can be difficult and normally relies on a combination of observed symptoms and prior knowledge of diseases common that may be an issue in your region. Comparing diseased and healthy plant samples by laboratory analysis can help to identify specific pathogens.

Symptoms to look for include:

Leaf discoloration (yellowing, black spots)

Stem discoloration (especially near the soil surface)

Plant wilting

Loss of vigour

Stunting of growth

Tissue distortion (oddly-shaped leaves, galls formed on stems)

Level 2: Scale/sap-sucking pest, Virus and Bacteria infection

Scale/Sap-Sucking Pest: The mouthparts of sucking insects are developed for piercing and sucking.These pests damage plants by inserting their mouthparts into planttissue and

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removing juices. Heavily infested plants become yellow,wilted, deformed or stunted, and may eventually die. Some sucking insects inject toxic materials into the plant while feeding, and some transmit disease organisms. The following are some examples of sucking insectsSucking pests include aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, whitefly, beetles and spider mites, mites.

Virus:

Plant viruses are type of viruses that specifically invade plants. Viruses are obligate parasites that require a living host for their growth and multiplication. Viruses enter the plant cell through plasmodesmata and to various plant parts by the phloem. Viruses may also spread through infected seeds, grafting, wind, splashing, pollination, and dripping sap. Unlike human beings, plant cell cannot recover viral infection in their lifecycle. Plant viruses cause major damage to the farmer’s economy by affecting on crop yield.

Most plant viruses are actively transmitted from infected to healthy plants by a living organism called a vector. Plant-feeding arthropods, nematodes and plant-parasitic fungi are the major types of vector organisms for plant viruses. Among these, aphids and whiteflies are capable of transmitting the largest number of virus species. Most viruses are actively transmitted to healthy plants in a matter of seconds, hours, or days by vectors.

In addition, some viruses are transmitted from infected plants when these plants are vegetatively propagated, for example, through tubers or grafting, or ‘vertically’ through seeds or pollen from infected plants. This type of transmission is particularly important for virus survival during the winter

Bacteria :

bacteria cause many serious diseases of vegetables. They do not penetrate directly into plant tissue but need to enter through wounds or natural plant openings. Wounds can result from damage by insects, other pathogens, and tools during operations such as pruning and picking.

Bacteria only become active and cause problems when factors are conducive for them to multiply. They are able to multiply quickly. Some factors conducive to infection include: high humidity; crowding; poor air circulation; plant stress caused by over-watering, under-watering, or irregular watering; poor soil health; and deficient or excess nutrients.

In order for a bacterium to produce a disease in a plant, the bacterium must first invade the plant tissue and multiply. Bacterial pathogens enter plants through wounds, principally produced by adverse weather conditions, humans, tools and machinery, insects, cultivation, grafting, pruning and nematodes, or through natural openings such as stomata, lenticels, hydathodes, nectar-producing glands, and leaf scars.Some bacteria, such as the causal agent of Stewart’s, or bacterial, wilt of corn (Erwinia stewartii), not only are spread by a flea beetle but also survive over winter in this insect.

When conditions are unfavorable for growth and multiplication, bacteria remain dormant on or inside plant tissue. Some, such as the crown gall bacterium, may survive for months or years in the soil.

Bacterial diseases are influenced greatly by temperature and moisture. Often, a difference of only a few degrees in temperature determines whether a bacterial disease will develop. In most cases, moisture as a water film on plant surfaces is essential for establishing an infection.

Level 3: Leaf eater

you have noticed something eating holes in your leaves, or even eating the entire leaf, then this quick guide will help you understand, Japanese Beetles, Cutworms, Cabbage White Butterfly Caterpillars,

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Asparagus Beetles, Hadda spotted beetle, Black Swallowtail Caterpillars, Hornwormsc etc.

Level 4: Stem borer, fruit Borer and shoot Borer

Borers are a group of insect pests that spend part of their adult or larval life stage feeding inside stem, shoot and fruit or tunneling beneath the bark or into the shrubs.

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Many species of boring insects are capable of causing internal damage to a wide range of plants.As adults, they may be either beetles or clear-winged moths.

Plant injury caused by borers can be long lasting; moderate to heavy infestation can cause death of the plant. Any plant can be susceptible, but it is generally believed that wood borers are secondary pests that develop because trees and shrubs are stressed, injured, or dying from other causes. Plants most susceptible to borer attack are those stressed from recent transplanting, drought, repeated defoliation, mechanical injury (mowers, grass trimmers), or other causes.

For Example Stem borer: Euzophera perticella, Shoot and fruit borer: Leucinodes orbonalis

Paecilomyces lilacinus

Metarhizium anisopliae

Beauveria bassiana

Verticillium lecanii

Ampelomyces quisqualis

Bacillus subtilis

Pseudomonas fluorescens

Trichoderma viride

Beauveria brongniartii

Hirsutella Spp