Question

(a) Organic farmers prefer biological control of diseases and pests to the use of chemical for the same purpose. Justify.
(b) Give an example of a bacterium, a fungus and an insect that are used as biocontrol agents.

Answer 1

a) Farmers prefer biocontrol to chemicals because usage of chemicals could be toxic to both humans and animals. Chemical pesticides are synthetic. They are broad spectrum and affect several non-target organisms. Also, chemical pesticides pollute the air, water, and soil. On the other hand, Biopesticides are live organisms or their natural products having pesticidal properties. They are pest specific and are harmless to other organisms. Biopesticides are non-pollutant. Hence, organic farmers prefer the biological control of diseases and pests to the use of chemical pesticides.

b) Bacterium : Bacillus thuringiensis

Fungus : Trichoderma

Insect : Ladybird and dragonflies