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development projects

With 8.41 million hectares of land under its production, wheat dominates all others crops in Pakistan. The majority of it is grown in the Punjab, in the east of the country.

so what’s the problem?Yields could be increased. Pests, such as the wheat aphid, can decimate crops. Natural enemies of the aphids, such as other insects, are being wiped out by broad spectrum chemical pesticides, the use of which has soared in recent years. This spraying is undermining the natural balance and, without the threat of their natural enemies, the wheat aphids are reaping the benefits.

More worryingly, wheat aphids are starting to attack crops at an early stage, causing maximum damage to maturing grains. It is inadvisable to spray most pesticides at this stage, and this is causing further economic loss to the farmers. Aphids are also thought to transmit viral and fungal diseases, and it could be just a matter of time before this happens in Pakistan.

what is this project doing?CABI is implementing a project to stop the pests before it is too late. As wheat is grown on a large scale, it is neither economically nor environmentally feasible to spray it with non-selective pesticides. More research is needed so the issue can be permanently and sustainably resolved.

locationPakistan

dates July 2009 – June 2013

project teamRana ShafiqueMuhammad FaheemMushtaq Ahmed

helping Pakistan’s wheat farmers lose less

The CABI team is carrying out research and developing a management package which allows wheat farmers to take a proactive approach to controlling the aphids. A package of best agricultural practices (BAP) including the use of biological control agents, such as beneficial insects, has been developed as a management tool to tackle the problem before it becomes an epidemic. As a last line of defence, the team will draw up a list of pesticides that are comparatively safe for the environment. The selected pesticides will not harm beneficial insects but will be effective against wheat aphids.

To increase the numbers of beneficial insects, the team will encourage farmers to intercrop their wheat with canola (rapeseed). Natural enemies will then help to control the aphid populations before they cause any significant damage. We will also look at the potential benefits of balanced fertilizer use and the possibility of developing resistant wheat varieties which are naturally able to withstand wheat aphids.

results so farFirst, the team tested different ratios of the main constituents of fertilizer – nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – to gauge their effects on aphid infestation and yield. The most aphids were recorded in plots where only nitrogen was applied, whereas the fewest aphids were noted in the plots where balanced fertilizer was used. These plots also gave the maximum yield.

Intercropping of wheat with canola was also trialled. The aphid population was reduced as a result of the higher population of natural enemies in the intercropped area, with little sacrifice to the wheat yield in economic terms.

We tested the effects of 15 insecticides on wheat aphids and their natural enemies. 10 pesticides caused more than 60 per cent reduction in the aphid population. Two of these proved to be best at controlling aphids and were also safe for natural enemies.

Farmers are now being trained in when to sow wheat, applying balanced fertilizer and safer pesticides, watering and intercropping, and these techniques are being promoted for dissemination across the region.

contactCABI, Opposite 1-A, Data Gunj Baksh Road, Satellite Town, P.O. Box 8, Rawalpindi, Pakistan T: +92 (0)51 9290132 F: +92 (0)51 9290131 E: cabi.cwa@cabi.org www.cabi.org/sasia

www.cabi.org/sawheatID

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Rana Shafique, Project Manager

partners

Directorate Adaptive Research Punjab, Lahore

Wheat Research Institute, Faisalabad

sponsor

Punjab Agricultural Research Board