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Biological control of pests and diseases has undergone a great deal of development in the last one and a half decade in India. Both Center and State Governments have been strong supporters of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with main emphasis on biological control. Realizing the potential of biocontrol and taking cognizance of the need to extend this technology from laboratory to field, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has gone in a big way to support a major programme in this area since 1989. DBT has made concerted efforts towards the development of biopesticide technology in the country in the last 15 years in a systematic way by launching various programmes and projects. The main objective of the programme is to develop safe and efficient biopesticide formulations, as well as cost effective commercially viable mass production technologies of various biocontrol agents / biopesticides (which include microbial pesticides- baculoviruses, entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes, antagonistic fungi and bacteria, parasitoids and predators; pheromones, other semiochemicals; botanical pesticides and plant growth regulator) for use under Integrated Pest Management and their bioefficacy tested through large scale front line field demonstrations against the key pests and diseases of economically important crops in varied agro-climatic zones.
DBT established a National Biocontrol Network Programme (NBNP) in 1989 to study the management of key insect pests, diseases and weeds of economically important crops viz., cotton, sugarcane, tobacco, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, fruits, spices and plantation crops. This network is a continued activity of the Department. Almost 200 R&D projects have been implemented so far in ICAR/CSIR Institutes and SAUs throughout the country.
During 1993-94, a time bound, goal oriented mission mode programme was launched on the development, production and demonstration of biocontrol agents under (IPM) in 15 States. Subsequently a major R&D programme on Biological control of crop pests and diseases under IPM as a component of Integrated Nutrient Management(INM) programme was launched in 1998-99 on the role of biological resources for Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management (INPM) for increasing agricultural productivity in existing cropping systems. DBT has been continuously supporting projects for research and demostration for development and promotion of biopesticides.
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