Crop Losses due to insect pests: Global and Indian Scenario

The global losses due to insect pests have declined from 13.6% in post-green revolution era to 10.8% towards the beginning of this century. In India, the crop losses have declined from 23.3% in post-green revolution era to 15.7% at present. In terms of monetary value, Indian agriculture currently suffers an annual loss of about US$ 36 billion. The last two decades have witnessed a remarkable progress in various biopesticide strategies including the development of transgenic crops. Such strategies should be utilized in integrated pest management programs to reduce crop losses without affecting the quality of environment.