Crop Protection Strategies : Under Climate Change Scenarios

Agriculture in the twenty-first century faces the challenge of meeting food demands while also satisfying sustainability goals. The challenge is further complicated by climate change which affects the distribution of crop pests (insects and mite pests, disease and nematode pathogens and weeds) and the severity of their outbreaks.More than 30 percent of crops worldwide are blemished, damaged or destroyed by agricultural pests - insects, mites, weeds, nematodes and diseases. The crop losses due to pests viewed in terms of food security would represent the equivalent of food required to feed over one billion people.Cropdamage could occur more rapidly than expected due to climate change,because many pests develop more rapidly in response to changing climate. Changesin pest status due to climate change will perilously affect agricultural production and the livelihood of farmers in the country where larger portion of work force is directly dependent on climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture. This envisages an urgent need to modify crop protection measures with changed climate in order to attain the goal of food security of the nation. In view of these developments, the present book on Crop Protection Strategies under Climate Change Scenarios provides the information on i) effects of climate variables [increased temperatures, elevated carbon dioxide levels, varying precipitation patterns and frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events (drought, cyclones, floods, etc.), and elevated levels of atmospheric pollutants (ozone,acid rain, and elevated ultraviolet B) on crop pests; ii) Impacts of climate change induced consequences (expansion of geographical distribution, increase in number of generations, increased overwintering survival, pest population dynamics and outbreaks, risk of introducing invasive alien species, crop-pest interactions, loss of ecological biodiversity, changes in phenology, increased incidence of insect vectored plant diseases, disruption of plant-pollinator interactions, reduced effectiveness of pest management strategies) on crop pests; iii) Development of modelling approaches to predict future pest change scenarios; and iv) Formulation of sustainable adaptation and mitigation pest management strategies including physical, cultural, chemical, biological, host resistance, and integrated methods under climate change scenarios. This book will be of immense value to scientific community involved in teaching, research and extension activities pertaining to pest management under climate change scenarios. The material in the book can be used for teaching post-graduate courses. The book can also serve as a very useful reference to policy makers and practicing farmers. (jacket).…