In organic farming pests and diseases of crops are managed by various ways such  as  use of  mechanical,  physical and  cultural  means,  resistant/tolerant cultivars of various crops, biological control agents (predators, parasitoids, and pathogens), organic products (animal urine, dung, compost, milk, soaps, plant products, mineral oils). Pest behavior modifying substances  (attractants and repellents) can also be used. Synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers are avoided in organic farming.  Of the above means, most of them are available and belnq used by Nepali farmers in limited scale and areas. Pesticidal plant resources are abundant in  Nepal, which have not been fully harnessed. Neem tree is a treasure of pesticides, which is being neglected by farmers and forest development workers. There is a need to create awareness of organic  pest management  (OPM)  among the farmers.  Many of the farmers'  practices  in pest management  need to be verified for their scientific merit. Some of the effective  biological  control  means (such  as pesticidal  preparations  of bacteria and  viruses)  are  very  expensive  and  beyond the  reach  of  small  farmers. Hence, cheaper means are to be searched.

In organic farming pests and diseases of crops are managed by various ways such  as  use of  mechanical,  physical and  cultural  means,  resistant/tolerant cultivars of various crops, biological control agents (predators, parasitoids, and pathogens), organic products (animal urine, dung, compost, milk, soaps, plant products, mineral oils). Pest behavior modifying substances  (attractants and repellents) can also be used. Synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers are avoided in organic farming.  Of the above means, most of them are available and belnq used by Nepali farmers in limited scale and areas. Pesticidal plant resources are abundant in  Nepal, which have not been fully harnessed. Neem tree is a treasure of pesticides, which is being neglected by farmers and forest development workers. There is a need to create awareness of organic  pest management  (OPM)  among the farmers.  Many of the farmers'  practices  in pest management  need to be verified for their scientific merit. Some of the effective  biological  control  means (such  as pesticidal  preparations  of bacteria and  viruses)  are  very  expensive  and  beyond the  reach  of  small  farmers. Hence, cheaper means are to be searched.

Chemical pesticides based plant protection technologies have been inappropriate in vegetable pest management in  Nepalese context,  because indigenous knowledge  (IK)  has  not  been  addressed seriously  in  national agricultural development programs. Farmers practice based organic pest management  system could play  a great  role to  improve  present situation. Though some research works have been initiated using botanicals and organic materials by some researchers in their personal  initiatives, these efforts are found to be insufficient to solve increasing vegetable pest management problems. This paper briefly highlights the research findings related to OPM on vegetables.

Chemical pesticides based plant protection technologies have been inappropriate in vegetable pest management in  Nepalese context,  because indigenous knowledge  (IK)  has  not  been  addressed seriously  in  national agricultural development programs. Farmers practice based organic pest management  system could play  a great  role to  improve  present situation. Though some research works have been initiated using botanicals and organic materials by some researchers in their personal  initiatives, these efforts are found to be insufficient to solve increasing vegetable pest management problems. This paper briefly highlights the research findings related to OPM on vegetables.

With  an objective to test  the  efficacy  of plant  materials to  soybean  hairy caterpillar (Spilarctina casigneta Kollar),  an experiment  was  conducted  at Entomology  laboratory  in  the  spring  of 2001.  A  total  of seven  different types  of plants  such  as  titepati  (Artemisia  vulgaris L.),  asuro  (Adhatoda vasica  L.), garlic (Allium sativum L.), bakaino  (Melia azedarach L.), peach (Prunus persica  L.),  sisnu  (Urtica  dioca  L.)  and  khirro  (Sapium  insigne) were tasted.  Leaf was  used in all the cases as suitable plant parts for the extraction of the  active ingredients. The  result  indicated that  all the  plant materials  posses some   sorts   of   anti-feedant   effects   to   the   larval development however, the  bakaino  (Melia azedarach L) was found to be significantly effective (P= <0.01) for its inhibition effect to the larval development into the  subsequent pupae.  However, the difference among other  treatments  for  larval  moulting  was  not  significantly  different. The result proved  the  possibility  of using  plant extracts  in managing  the aerial feeding pests  indicating the ample  opportunity  of integrating them  into the development of organic pest management.

With  an objective to test  the  efficacy  of plant  materials to  soybean  hairy caterpillar (Spilarctina casigneta Kollar),  an experiment  was  conducted  at Entomology  laboratory  in  the  spring  of 2001.  A  total  of seven  different types  of plants  such  as  titepati  (Artemisia  vulgaris L.),  asuro  (Adhatoda vasica  L.), garlic (Allium sativum L.), bakaino  (Melia azedarach L.), peach (Prunus persica  L.),  sisnu  (Urtica  dioca  L.)  and  khirro  (Sapium  insigne) were tasted.  Leaf was  used in all the cases as suitable plant parts for the extraction of the  active ingredients. The  result  indicated that  all the  plant materials  posses some   sorts   of   anti-feedant   effects   to   the   larval development however, the  bakaino  (Melia azedarach L) was found to be significantly effective (P= <0.01) for its inhibition effect to the larval development into the  subsequent pupae.  However, the difference among other  treatments  for  larval  moulting  was  not  significantly  different. The result proved  the  possibility  of using  plant extracts  in managing  the aerial feeding pests  indicating the ample  opportunity  of integrating them  into the development of organic pest management.