BOTANICAL PESTICIDES: AN UPCOMING TOOL FOR PLANT PROTECTION.

Over the years, heavy reliance on conventional synthetic pesticides in the cultivation of crops has led to several unforeseen environmental problems such as rapid development of resistance in pests, suppression of parasitoids, predation, increased insect outbreaks, environmental and food chain contamination. To avoid all the demerits of chemicals used as commercial pesticides, an integrated strategy for crop pest control which includes biological control and chemical pesticides including “Botanicals” needs to be developed. So, extensive studies have been carried out on the use of plant derivatives both as crude preparations and as commercial formulations against the control of pest population without affecting their natural enemies.