RATING INDEX AS A BASIS FOR DECISION-MAKING ON PESTICIDE USE REDUCTION AND FOR ACCREDITATION OF FRUIT PRODUCED UNDER INTEGRATED PEST-MANAGEMENT

Consumer concern about pesticide residues in food crops has led to pro grammes aimed at reducing pesticide usage. Pesticides vary greatly in properties such as activity, site of application, timing of applicatio n, persistence, efficacy, cost, environmental effects. toxicity, compa tibility with integrated pest management, and availability of alternat ives. A system for classifying pesticide use in different crop/use sit uations is presented, comprising three indices - Potential for Residue s Index (PRI). Value Index (VI). and a summation of PRI and VI called the Pesticide Index (PI) - that allow the advantages and disadvantages of pesticide options to be compared. This rating system can be used a s an objective basis for pesticide use reduction and residue managemen t decisions. The indices could also be used as a means of accreditatio n of crops produced under an integrated pest management programme with acceptance being based on the PI not exceeding a threshold figure. A cryptogram provides a summation of the properties of the pesticide/use situation. and allows different weightings for these properties to be applied, depending on the priorities seen as the most important.