Traditional and Ecofriendly Pest Management Techniques for Pulse Storage

This study investigates traditional and ecofriendly pest management practices for pulse storage among rural communities in the Kapkote block of Bageshwar district, Uttarakhand, conducted between June 2022 and March 2023. Data were collected from respondent farmers using the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method. It was found that farm families employed traditional techniques for storing and drying grains, such as coating storage structures with a mixture of soapstone powder (Mg3Si4O10 (OH)2 ) and ash to protect them from insect infestation during long-term storage. Jute bags and wooden boxes were identified as the most commonly used storage options for pulses in the surveyed areas. Sun-drying emerged as a widely accepted and reliable traditional method, practiced by nearly 100% of participants for preserving pulses before storage. Among the farmers surveyed, 17% used Dendranthema grandiflorum (Ramat), (chrysanthemum) leaves, 21% used Capsicum annuum (L) (red chilli) powder, 15% used Brassica juncea (L) (mustard) oil and 32% utilized other botanicals for storage protection. These findings underscore the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge systems and promoting ecofriendly pest management techniques to ensure safe, sustainable, and pesticide-free pulse storage in rural communities.