Biointensive integrated management of insect pests

The principles of integrated pest managemnt have evolved keeping in view the sustainable development of agro-ecosystems and socio-economic benefits. Conventional agriculture is generally perceived in the context of economic returns but IPM is recognized as the development and utilization of pest control strategies that have favourable, socio–economic and environmental implications. This review deals with the various strategies involved in biointensive IPM programmes that aim primarily to attain sustainability in agro-ecosystem with minimal effects on environment. It highlights the successful utilization of cultural, behavioural, biological and biorational approaches with reduced-risk pesticides in addition to molecular approaches that encompass transgenic crops, transgenic natural enemies and genetically modified insects. These issues need attention to ensure an effective transition from the conventional chemical-intensive pest control programmes to ecologically based biointensive IPM which has evolved as an environmentally benign alternative in sustainable insect pest management.