Integrated Pest Management Practices in the Context of the Indian Knowledge System

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) represents a sustainable and ecologically balanced approach to pest regulation that combines biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical methods to minimize economic damage while safeguarding environmental and human health. Traditional Indian agricultural knowledge, preserved through indigenous practices and classical texts, offers a rich foundation for eco-friendly pest control strategies. This chapter synthesizes contemporary IPM principles with indigenous pest management knowledge across diverse Indian agro-ecosystems, highlighting scientific validation, sustainability implications, and future research directions.