STM Article Repository

Rice is an important major crop which feeds half of the world population. Insect pests are major biotic
constraint in the rice production and considerable yield reduction hampered the productivity in the rice
growing regions of Asian countries. Though, insecticides offer better control of insect pests there are
several problems associated with the use of synthetic chemicals. The growing knowledge of
environmental safety and ecosystem conservation techniques urge to change to strategy for insect
pest management to switch to non-chemical approaches. Botanicals and plant products are excellent
alternate strategy for the efficient pest management without disturbing ecological balance. Rice
ecosystem has rich biodiversity including the natural biological control agents and wetland diversity.
To protect beneficial organisms as well as wetland ecosystem the use of synthetic chemicals should
be discouraged. This chapter reviewed different botanical plant products that can be used for insect
pest management in rice. The effect of botanicals was deal under different subheading, viz., impact
on sucking pests, chewing insects, storage insects, natural enemies and integrated pest management
of rice cultivation.