Integrated pest management (IPM) and good agricultural practices (GAP) in relation to food security: need for government policy for successful implementation

Agricultural development is caught between increased competition accompanied by decreasing prices, land degradation and concerns for sustainability, environment, safe food and animal / human health. Pesticides have been around in some form or another for centuries and have posed a lot of harm to our crops, environment and animals over the years. The increased environmental and public health awareness and the need to implement sustainable agricultural production systems have discouraged the injudicious use of pesticides. Integrated pest management (IPM) and Good agricultural practices (GAP) aims to minimise the use of chemical pesticides and to ensure an integration of various control measures in an informal manner without harmful effects on the environment and occupational and public health. Decision makers in developing countries have to find an appropriate balance between a careful reversal of proactive pesticide support in the traditional agricultural development agenda, which nevertheles does not endanger food security and rural development objectives. For a successful implementation of IPM and GAP, government policy on agricultural development need to provide financial resources for their continual development. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(1) 2006: 80-84