Abstract

Chemical pesticides are not only toxic to pests but also to other non target organisms like fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, beneficial insects and mammals. There are several pesticide associated problems like residue in food, health hazards, environmental pollution, development of resistance in pests, resurgence of pest, secondary pest outbreak, increase in cost of cultivation, etc. Therefore, use of alternatives to conventional pesticides in pest management for sustainable agriculture is essential. Non-Pesticidal Management (NPM), which is a promising approach, emphasizes on ecological principles of pest management. NPM is a sustainable and environmentally safe plant protection system in Agriculture. NPM involves various strategies in a compatible manner to manage agricultural pests but totally eliminates the use of chemical pesticides for crop protection thereby eliminates risks associated with chemical pesticides. NPM system encourages farming practices with nature, promoting a healthy, residue free and resilient food system for the future.