Category Archives: Recommended Websites

Gardeners who grow food and medicinal plants would prefer not to use any harmful synthetic chemicals to control or cure pests and disease problems in their gardens. I recently came across an online resource that most organic gardeners and edible plant growers would be looking for.

The website termed “OISAT” (Online Information Service for Non-Chemical Pest Management in the Tropics) contains information on non-chemical pest management that can be used to minimise pest damage in a safe, effective and ecologically sound way in the tropics.

OISAT shares information on various non-chemical pest management practices which include preventive measures such as crop design and layout, cultural practices, management of natural enemies, and mechanical methods, as well as, curative measures such as pest-controlling plants, physical methods, the use of other substances such as soap, and other methods which include a diversity of types of methods not forming a particular category.

The term “non-chemical” for practices and products which exclude synthetic chemical pesticides and genetically altered substances. Non-chemical products, as they are used in the OISAT context, may be processed on the farm but also manufactured commercially. The non-chemical commercial products, which are not excluded, are biopesticides, which are permitted in organic agriculture.

Information is cateogrised into three main sections. Under the tab “Crops”, one would be able to find non-chemical pest management practices according to the cropping season of the major crops, indicating key pests for each growth stage and plant part.

To find methods specific to a particular pest or disease, one can click on the “Pest” tab. One can expect to see illustrations or photographs of a particular pest and disease and the recommended non-chemical management methods.

The actions of some non-chemical management methods cover a wide spectrum of pests or diseases, click the tab labelled “Control methods” to find out what other pests and diseases a particular method also help to treat or eradicate.

OISAT is brought to netizens by PAN (Pesticide Action Network). PAN is a network of over 600 participating nongovernmental organizations, institutions and individuals in over 90 countries working to replace the use of hazardous pesticides with ecologically sound and socially just alternatives. PAN was founded in 1982 and has five independent, collaborating Regional Centers that implement its projects and campaigns.

Click on the following URL to access OISAT:

http://oisat.org/