Chemical pesticides have played an important role in increasing the food production in India but their indiscriminate use has led to several environmental problems. Biopesticides/biocontrol agents, being target specific, environment friendly and biodegradable nature are being used as an alternate strategy to chemical pesticides. The biocontrol agents viz. parasitoids, predators, insect pathogens, antagonistic organisms, weed killers etc. have other added advantage of being self-perpetuating and establishing for many years offering permanent control in the ecosystem. Biological control is playing an important role in the modern agricultural concepts of integrated pest management and sustainable agriculture.

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