Farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and practices in jute insect pest management and cultural strategy in the upper Gangetic plains of West Bengal, India

A survey on jute farmers’ knowledge, perceptions and practices (KPP) in pest management strategy was conducted during jute cultivation season of 2015 in the upper Gangetic plains of Uttar Dinajpur District, West Bengal, India. Detection and control of insect pests was largely based on damage symptoms of host plant. Damage caused by jute semilooper (Anomis sabulifera) was often mistakenly attributed to other leaf feeding caterpillars. Nearly all of the farmers applied insecticides (99%) without target specific use with an average 1.5 per season which may increase up to two to three spray per week. Pyrethroids were mostly accepted insecticide (67%), followed by organophosphates (33%) without knowing its toxic effect on environment. Farmers’ estimated yield loss due to insect pests was significantly correlated to estimated pest control cost. Due to pesticide sellers’ recommendations, farmer’s insecticidal ‘spray load’ significantly increased in every year, whereas the adopted number of insecticidal increased with advice following the guidance of extension staff and advertisement. Expenditure for pesticides was in concurrent with that of fertilizers. Only 10% of participating farmers knew about natural enemies, all of which were predators. Investigation is needed to evaluate whether significant savings can be obtained given a more judicious use of pesticides.