Vol. 11, Special Issue 3 (2022)

Author(s):
Liyaqat Ayoub, Sheikh Salma Irshad, Munazah Yaqoob, Masrat Siraj, Audil Gull, Fazil Fayaz Wani, Tauseef Ahmad Bhat, Suhail Fayaz, Aijaz Nazir, Mohmmad Aasif Sheikh, Jameela Rasool, Zuhaib Farooq, Mathumitaa P, Rukshanda Hanif and Nasir Bashir Naikoo

Abstract:
A significant problem for agriculture globally is climate change, via its effects on the distribution, biology and potential of spread of diseases and pests in all ecosystems, climate change is already having an effect on agriculture. Climate change influences the distribution and severity of crop pests, i.e., " any animal, plant or pathogenic species, strain or biotype harmful to plants or plant products” directly and indirectly. Upto 40 per cent of the world’s food supply is already endangered by pest and the decrease in pest impact is of prime concern than ever for ensuring global food security, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and decreased application of inputs. Climate-smart pest management (CSPM) is a multi-sectoral strategy aimed at reducing crop losses caused by pests, improving ecosystem services, reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of food produced and enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change. CSPM should not be understood as a stand-alone solution in order to be successful, but as part of a larger CSA (Climate Smart Agriculture) intervention that considers pest management to be one of its main components. Effect of climate change is more in temperate insects which affect their range expansion, host enemy synchrony and interspecific competition. CSPM strongly stresses the need to establish and introduce more reliable diagnostic techniques to classify pests and their natural enemies in order to be able to make decisions on pest control in the future. Since, climate change is because of human activities and can also be minimized by human activities. Therefore, there is a need to look after the effects of climate change on crop protection and ultimately safeguard food security.