Living with reduced insecticide use for tropical rice in Asia

The rapid growth in intensive rice production systems in Asia and the consequent increase in indiscriminate insecticide use led to, among others, a disruption in the pestpredator environment, pest outbreaks and yield losses. Adverse consequences on the environment, paddy ecology and human health have been well documented. This paper discusses the impacts of indiscriminate insecticide use, examines technologies for more judicious insecticide use and the risks associated with moving to a reduced insecticide use strategy. Policy and institutional requirements for implementing a reduced insecticide use strategy for rice are also presented.