Vegetable farming has become a profitable business along the roadside of mid-hills of Nepal.
Dhusatar VDC of Dhadhing is one of the vegetable farming pockets located in mid-hill just
82 km away from the capital (Kathmandu). A study was carried out in Dhusatar pocket
during 1999 through focus group discussion and household survey methods in order to
collect the information related with status of pesticide use for the insect pest managemeflt
over existing vegetable growing practices and land use pattern. Majority of cultivated land
was occupied by vegetable fam1ing, especially eggplant and cabbage during summer and
winter season respectively. These vegetables were grown in all types of land (Khet, Bari and
Pakho). Eggplant-cabbage cropping pattern was dominant one. The insect pests such as,
eggplant shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee), fruit fly (Dacus cucurbitae)
and hoppers (Homopteran) were major problems to crops causing about I 1 to 50% losses in
crop yield through combining pest complex illteraction. Similarly, cabbage butteifly (Pieris
brassicae Doubleday), tobacco caterpillar {Spodoptera litura Fab.), aphids {Aphis sp.),
diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella L). cut worms (Agrotis sp.) and tomato fruit borer
(Helicoverpa armigera Hubner) were major problems in winter season inflicting up to 30%
losses. The use .of chemical insecticides· was oi1ly the means adopted by farmers for· insect
pest management. The chemical pesticide belonging to Syllthetic pyrethroid and
Organophosphate groups were commonly used by the farmers with an increased dose and
frequency over the years. Moreover, the recommended dose, application method and safety
measures for the application of pesticides were also not properly followed by the famlers.
The survey has clearly indicated that majority of famlers were not acquainted with
Integrated Pest Managemeflt approaches and they were willing to adopt methods other thar~
the use of chemical pesticides, if such altemative methods are provided by the line agencies
for restriction ofpesticides

Vegetable farming has become a profitable business along the roadside of mid-hills of Nepal.
Dhusatar VDC of Dhadhing is one of the vegetable farming pockets located in mid-hill just
82 km away from the capital (Kathmandu). A study was carried out in Dhusatar pocket
during 1999 through focus group discussion and household survey methods in order to
collect the information related with status of pesticide use for the insect pest managemeflt
over existing vegetable growing practices and land use pattern. Majority of cultivated land
was occupied by vegetable fam1ing, especially eggplant and cabbage during summer and
winter season respectively. These vegetables were grown in all types of land (Khet, Bari and
Pakho). Eggplant-cabbage cropping pattern was dominant one. The insect pests such as,
eggplant shoot and fruit borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee), fruit fly (Dacus cucurbitae)
and hoppers (Homopteran) were major problems to crops causing about I 1 to 50% losses in
crop yield through combining pest complex illteraction. Similarly, cabbage butteifly (Pieris
brassicae Doubleday), tobacco caterpillar {Spodoptera litura Fab.), aphids {Aphis sp.),
diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella L). cut worms (Agrotis sp.) and tomato fruit borer
(Helicoverpa armigera Hubner) were major problems in winter season inflicting up to 30%
losses. The use .of chemical insecticides· was oi1ly the means adopted by farmers for· insect
pest management. The chemical pesticide belonging to Syllthetic pyrethroid and
Organophosphate groups were commonly used by the farmers with an increased dose and
frequency over the years. Moreover, the recommended dose, application method and safety
measures for the application of pesticides were also not properly followed by the famlers.
The survey has clearly indicated that majority of famlers were not acquainted with
Integrated Pest Managemeflt approaches and they were willing to adopt methods other thar~
the use of chemical pesticides, if such altemative methods are provided by the line agencies
for restriction ofpesticides