There are several methods of insect pest control , one of which is the use of sterile insect technique(SIT) which is Govt.,s project. Will it be possible to use this technique at the farmer,s level ?
Yes, it is possible to use SIT on farmers' field depending on the insect and crop concerned. The biology, mobility/dipersal, ecology and communication strategies of the insect in question must be properly understood.
Yes, it is done with successs against Anthomyiid flies in Southern Quebec, Canada.
For info, contact Francois Fournier at
You can also download a pdf (in French) at:
https://www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/Regions/Laurentides/Journeeshorticoles/Potentielmouchessterilescontremoucheduchou.pdf
Practically, No. Start up cost is too great. Governments doing area-wide pest control is feasible for those species that only mate once because the initial cost can be distributed over multiple states or even countries and over years of operation. Government agencies supplying irradiated males insects to farmers might work, but area-wide efforts are more cost efficient and effective.
According to Dr. William kem it is possible to implement and transfer SIT technology to end users but the initial cost of radiation sources and labour cost is too huge but also technical know how of the supporting staff members about the target insect pests rearing/their biology and at which stage radiation is possible and also popularize the SIT method among the farmers community is prerequisite.
Local government of Okinawa island (Japan) successfully controlling fruit fly by applying male SIT using gamma ray. Expensive though. For growers, SIT using chemical I think having higher possibility to do.
We also used SIT to control Mediterranean Fruit flies in Florida and California, supplemented with aerial application of a syrup bait at night. Susrama, I am not familiar with a chemosterilant product. I suppose that the IGRs like CSI and JHA do interfere with reproduction. We do have a chemosterilant for pest birds like pigeons that prevents the female from laying viable eggs as long as she receives the bait.
SIT implementation is possible in developed countries who bear the initial investment which is too high and also depend on interest of farmers and mass scale rearing facilities for insect pests in conducive conditions ..
Since the cost involved is so high many agencies are not interested in this method of control.
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