Adaptation and Effectiveness of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Practices in Paddy Cultivation in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Paddy cultivation continues to be the foundation of Sri Lanka’s agricultural economy and food security, particularly in the Southern region. Nevertheless, increased dependence on chemical pest control has sparked serious debates on environmental pollution, ill-health implications on farming community, and sustainability of agricultural systems over time. This thesis investigates the uptake and success of IPM as a sustainable option in paddy cultivation. Using a mixed methods research framework, the study combines quantitative responses from a survey of 62 farmers with qualitative data collected through interviews with agricultural instructors. This report reveals that when IPM is used, pesticide use is reduced, crop yields increase, there is less risk to farmer health, and there are positive effects on the environment. However, several obstacles such as farmers’ low recognition, insufficient training and infrastructure weaknesses hinder the more widespread deployment of IPM technologies. The study underscores the crucial importance of enhanced institutional support, broad-based farmer education programs and focused policy interventions to push the shift towards sustainable pest management. Amidst rapidly accelerating climate change, increasing ecological fragility, the rampant spread of pests and diseases, reduced access to agrochemicals, and people’s decreasing purchasing power, the mass adoption of IPM is highlighted as a central strategy in safeguarding the resilience, productivity and sustainability of Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector.