Effective Pest Management and Biodiversity Conservation in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, rich agro-biodiversity is increasingly threatened by unsustainable pest management practices, environmental degradation, pest resistance, decline of beneficial species, and contamination of food and water. This study evaluates prevailing pest management strategies, their ecological and economic impacts, and opportunities to develop biodiversity- and eco-friendly pest control systems. A cross-sectional mixed-methods approach was applied across five agroecological zones, involving surveys of 500 smallholder farmers, 30 key informant interviews, ecological field assessments, and laboratory analysis of pesticide residues in soil, water, and vegetables. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially, while biodiversity indices measured species richness; qualitative data were thematically analyzed to explore knowledge, institutional barriers, and perceptions. Results show that 87% of farmers rely solely on chemical pesticides, often applying high doses based on visual inspection rather than integrated thresholds. Pesticide residues were detected in 85% of vegetable and 80% of soil samples, with 28% exceeding national maximum residue limits. Ecological assessments revealed lower populations of pollinators and beneficial predators in high pesticide-use areas compared to fields managed under IPM or ecological agriculture. Only 13% of farmers received IPM training, and under 11% practiced it actively. Economic analysis indicated that IPM fields achieved similar yields but lower input costs, generating higher net income. Biodiversity was notably higher in diversified farms with hedgerows, polycultures, and ecological buffer zones.