Step 2. Evaluate crops/pests for which alternative(s) need to be sought
Purpose
This step aims at evaluating the extent of the pest problems, and identify the priority crop-pest combinations that require alternatives for the registered HHPs.
The starting point of this step is the list of current uses of the HHP (crop–pest combinations) for which alternatives may be required (= outcome of Step 1). However, since this list can be long, alternatives to HHPs may need to be identified as a priority for crop-pest combinations or other uses with the highest agronomic, economic or public health importance.
Information required and possible sources
for each crop–pest combination or use:
Information | Possible sources |
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Geographical extent of the pest.
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Importance of the pest: i. levels of damage caused; ii. levels of crop loss; iii. levels of economic loss. Situations in which the pest appears to cause damage, crop loss or economic loss, and situations in which it does less/not (e.g. geographical, timing, climate, crop management practices). |
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Efficacy of use of the HHP to reduce damage, crop loss and economic loss. |
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Efficacy of use of other pesticides or pest management approaches, including biocontrol or IPM. |
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Procedures
- Consult with plant protection officers, extension staff, pesticide users, research institutes and pesticide distributors and dealers, to obtain a complete as possible picture of the geographical distribution of the pest as well as its importance. Often, quantitative information about the importance of the pest (i.e. levels of damage, crop loss and economic loss) may not be available or is incomplete, and a (semi-)qualitative assessment will then need to be conducted.
- Consult with research institutes, plant protection and agricultural extension officers, (bio)pesticide distributors and other relevant sources on the efficacy of use of the HHP as well as of other pest management practices which are used in the country, including any biocontrol and IPM. Published studies from other countries may be informative if agro-ecological conditions are similar or can be extrapolated. Care should be taken to recognize bias in the estimation of the efficacy of pest management approaches, especially if it is not properly quantified.
Further guidance on the evaluation of efficacy of pesticides in agriculture is available from FAO and from the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO)
- Note whether any other problems exist in the management of the crop–pest combination, e.g. frequent pest outbreaks, resistance development. These issues may need to be considered in the deployment of alternative pest management strategies.
- Analyse and discuss the information gathered with the aim to prioritize the crop–pest combinations for which alternative management options need to be identified.
Example summary of an evaluation of the importance of the pests against which HHP-X is used, in a hypothetical country
Active ingredient: HHP-X | ||||||
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Crop | Pest | Geographical distribution of the pest | Importance of pest | Efficacy of HHP | Efficacy of other pest management | Remarks |
Possible conclusions:
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Maize | Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) | Countrywide; but most outbreaks seen in north-eastern districts | Localised outbreaks with highly variable damage and crop loss, ranging from 0-100% | HHP-X reduces armyworm populations locally by 40-70%, dependant on larval instar and weather conditions (rain) | Several low-risk insecticides are registered against fall armyworm, but they are more expensive Biocontrol with NPV is effective if applied when larvae are young; NPV can be locally produced | Smallholder farmers apply insecticides using no or only basic PPE |
Cotton | American bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) | District A District B District C | Yield loss ranging from 10-50%, mainly observed in districts A & B Economic loss dependent on cotton price, reportedly ranging from 5-35% No local economic studies available | HHP-X reduces bollworm populations by max. 75% No economic cost-benefit assessment of using HHP-X is available | Insecticide-Z is widely used, and has lower acute toxicity than HHP-X No biopesticide is marketed against bollworm | Moderate development of field resistance against Insecticide-Z is confirmed |
Outcome of Step 2
- Prioritization of crop–pest combinations for which alternatives need to be sought.
- Problems with current pest management practices to be addressed in the overall alternative pest management strategy.
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Next: Step 3. Identify potential alternatives