Integrated Pest Management in Cotton – 5 CICR Strategies That Work

Integrated Pest Management in Cotton, led by CICR, offers five smart strategies to protect crops sustainably—cultural practices, biological agents, pest monitoring, host resistance, and insecticide rotation. These methods reduce pesticide use by up to 50% and improve yield and soil health. Backed by government support and smart tech, IPM is transforming cotton farming across India into an eco-friendly and profitable venture for millions of farmers.

by Shubham

Published On: September 1, 2025

Integrated Pest Management in Cotton has emerged as a game-changer in Indian agriculture, especially with the active push from the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR). This approach combines scientific pest control techniques with environmentally sustainable practices to ensure high productivity, reduced pesticide use, and healthier crops.

Cotton, often called “white gold,” supports the livelihoods of over 6 million farmers in India. However, this crop is extremely vulnerable to pests such as bollworms, whiteflies, and aphids, which can wipe out entire yields if not controlled timely. CICR’s five-pronged IPM strategy provides farmers with practical tools to prevent these pests—without harming soil, water, or pollinators like bees.

Integrated Pest Management in Cotton

Feature	Details
Main Topic	Integrated Pest Management in Cotton
Developed by	Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur
Goal	Sustainable pest control in cotton
5 Core Strategies	Cultural control, Biological control, Monitoring, Resistant varieties, IRM
Major Benefits	30-50% reduced pesticide use, 20-25% higher yields
Government Support	PMFBY, Soil Health Card, RKVY
Technologies Involved	Pheromone traps, mobile apps, drones
Official Link	CICR Official Website

CICR’s Integrated Pest Management strategy is far more than pest control—it’s a movement towards sustainable, science-backed farming that protects farmers’ health, the environment, and cotton quality.

By adopting its five proven strategies—cultural practices, biological control, monitoring, resistant varieties, and IRM—India’s cotton growers can lead a green revolution 2.0 that’s smarter, cleaner, and future-ready.

Background: The Cotton Pest Problem in India

India’s cotton revolution began in the early 2000s with Bt cotton, which significantly reduced the need for pesticide sprays against bollworms. But over the years, secondary pests and resistance to Bt toxins started emerging.

For instance, between 2015 and 2017, whitefly outbreaks in Punjab and Haryana led to thousands of crores in crop loss. These crises emphasized the need for a more holistic solution—which is exactly what CICR’s Integrated Pest Management offers.

CICR’s 5 Pillar Strategies for Cotton IPM

1. Cultural Control Practices

These involve modifying farm practices to naturally reduce pest breeding. Techniques include:

Timely sowing before peak pest seasons.
Crop rotation with cereals or pulses.
Destruction of crop residues after harvest.
Removal of alternate weed hosts.

Impact: Cultural control alone can reduce pest entry by 25–30% and improve soil health.

2. Biological Control Using Beneficial Insects

CICR promotes use of:

Trichogramma chilonis (parasitic wasps for bollworm eggs),
Chrysoperla spp. (green lacewings),
Coccinellids (ladybird beetles for sucking pests).

These natural enemies don’t harm humans or the environment.

Testimonial: “Since I began releasing Trichogramma cards, I’ve reduced sprays by half,” says Mukesh Patel, a cotton farmer from Akola.

3. Monitoring and Threshold-Based Action

Rather than reacting blindly, IPM insists on data-backed interventions:

Pheromone traps for bollworms,
Sticky traps for whiteflies,
Weekly scouting of fields.

Action is recommended only if Economic Threshold Levels (ETLs) are crossed. For example, 5 larvae/20 plants for bollworms.

Tools: Farmers now use mobile apps like “Crop Doctor” for real-time pest tracking.

4. Host Plant Resistance

This includes Bt cotton hybrids and newer CICR-bred non-Bt varieties with resistance to jassids and whiteflies.

This reduces dependency on chemical sprays and delays pest resistance.

Stat: In a 3-year ICAR trial, resistant varieties had 40% lower infestations and 15% higher lint quality.

5. Insecticide Resistance Management (IRM)

To prevent pests from developing resistance:

Insecticides are rotated based on mode of action (MoA).
Sprays are minimized and used only when necessary.
No cocktail sprays of different chemicals are allowed.

CICR publishes IRM guidelines annually for each agro-climatic zone.

Data: IRM practices have kept Helicoverpa resistance under control for over 6 years in trial areas.

Government Support for IPM Adoption

Various schemes help small and marginal farmers switch to IPM:

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Crop loss due to pest attacks is covered.
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY): Supports bio-agent production and field demonstrations.
Soil Health Card Scheme: Encourages balanced nutrient use, reducing pest-prone conditions.

Did You Know? Under the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture, IPM is a key pillar for resilient farming.

Environmental & Health Benefits

IPM reduces chemical residues in:

Soil – preserving microbial diversity.
Water bodies – preventing runoff contamination.
Cotton lint – enabling better export compliance (EU/US pesticide residue limits).

Bonus: Lesser pesticide use means lower farmer exposure, reducing cases of pesticide poisoning, especially among women laborers.

Global Outlook: India vs World

Compared to countries like the US and China:

Country	Main IPM Feature	Adoption Rate
India	CICR-led, pest-resistant seeds, farmer field schools	40–45%
USA	GIS & drone mapping for IPM	70%+
China	Community-based IPM, AI models	60–70%

With rising digital agtech in India, the IPM adoption rate is expected to cross 60% by 2027.