Farmer’s Adoption and Effectiveness of Insect Pests Management Strategies in Organic Tomato Fields

Abstract

A study was conducted in organic and intensive tomato growing areas located in Manikganj and Narsingdi districts of Dhaka division. A total of 30 organic tomato growers were selected from 5 randomly selected villages of Manikganj and Narsingdi. Data were collected from September 2020 to September 2021. Most frequently used insect pest management strategies by the organic farmers under the study areas were; T0=Untreated control (Used resistant varieties only), T1=Pheromone trap (Plastic pot), T2=Sticky trap+ Neem leaf powder @ 1kg/10L of water at 7 days interval, T3=Bait trap+ Neem leaf powder @ 1kg/10L of water at 7 days interval, T4=Light trap+ Mahogany seed powder @ 20gm/L of water at 7 days interval and T5= Pheromone trap + Trichogramma evanescens (100 points ha-1 at 500 wasps per point). For the untreated control of tomato fruit borer, T1=Pheromone trap (Plastic pot) was the most frequently used (52.67%) in the study area whereas T5= Pheromone trap + Trichogramma evanescens (16.67%) was used by the least number of organic farmers besides untreated control T0 (8.67%). The highest benefit cost ratio was 1.51 recorded from the treatment T5= Pheromone trap + Trichogramma evanescens, lowest benefit cost ratio was 1.30 recorded for tomato production from the untreated control treatment T0. Due to reduced operating costs, the benefit-cost ratio for producing organic tomato was comparable to and close to that of growing high yielding tomato using inorganic methods. The difference between the BCR of organic tomato production procedures and inorganic tomato production practices was eventually eliminated by high market price and rising demand of organic produces.