Losing a crop to pests, diseases, or wild animals feels like watching months of hard work disappear overnight. For many farmers, this isn’t just a one-time problem; it’s a cycle that continually impacts their income year after year. You prepare the soil, invest in seeds, and put in long hours, but when the plants start to grow, something begins eating away at your efforts.

Especially when you’ve already tried common fixes that don’t seem to hold up season after season. According to the FAO, pests and diseases destroy up to 40% of global crop yields annually, resulting in losses of over ₹18,790 billion for farmers. The challenge isn’t just stopping the damage. It’s knowing what to use, when to use it, and how to do it without wasting time or money.

In this blog, we’ll break down the most practical, tried-and-tested crop protection methods that farmers across different regions are using today. If you’re tired of seeing your crops suffer, this is a good place to start taking back control.

What is Crop Protection?

Crop protection refers to the strategies, products, and technologies used to safeguard crops from destructive elements, namely insects, weeds, diseases, and pests. Without interventions, annual crop losses would nearly double, severely compromising food security and the livelihoods of farmers.

• Chemical and Biological Solutions: herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, microbial agents, and pheromones.

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combining monitoring, natural pest predators, cultural techniques and precise inputs can boost profits by 8–10% in some regions.

• Botanical and Bio-pesticides: Neem-based extracts, garlic-onion sprays, biopesticides like Bt toxin and microbial agents reducing reliance on chemicals.

• Intercropping Methods (Push–Pull): Planting repellent and trap crops nearby to deter pests, proven effective for controlling stalk borers and armyworms.

• Technology Applications: Drones with AI for early disease detection and targeted spraying, along with crowdsourced pest surveillance networks.

Crop protection is far more than applying a spray; it’s a layered strategy that safeguards yields, incomes, and the food needs of billions. When backed by effective outreach and regulation, well-managed crop protection systems benefit farmers, rural economies, and end consumers alike.

Once we understand what crop protection entails, it’s worthwhile to examine how it helps farmers maintain steady yields and healthier fields.

What are the Benefits of Crop Protection?

Crop protection is the practise of defending crops from pests, diseases, and weeds to avoid yield loss and maintain quality. It's a vital part of modern farming that helps both large and small farmers grow more food on the same land.

Here are the main benefits:

1. Higher Yields

Crop protection helps prevent major crop losses. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), farmers can lose 20% to 40% of their potential yield due to pest and disease attacks. By using crop protection methods (like pesticides, biological controls, or drones), farmers can keep more of their harvest.

2. Better Crop Quality

Healthy crops look better, grow more evenly, and meet quality standards required for selling in markets. Protected crops are less likely to be rejected by buyers or downgraded in price due to pest damage.

3. Reduced Input Wastage

Targeted spraying (for example, using drones) enables farmers to treat only affected areas, rather than entire fields. This saves pesticides and water, reduces costs, and limits exposure to chemicals.

4. Stable Income

When crops are protected and yields are more predictable, farmers are less vulnerable to losses caused by unexpected infestations. This gives more stable returns at the end of the season.

5. Fewer Labour Challenges

Spraying or monitoring crops manually is time-consuming and labour-intensive. Tools like drones, crop sensors, or remote monitoring systems help reduce this burden, especially during peak seasons when labour is short.

6. Food Security

More reliable crop production means more food on the table for both rural families and the broader population. India loses an estimated ₹90,000 crore worth of crops each year to pests and diseases; crop protection directly helps reduce this number.

7. Environmentally Safer Practises

Newer crop protection techniques (like bio-pesticides or drone spraying) reduce the overall chemical footprint by applying the right product in the right amount, without overuse or runoff.

Crop protection in India is about more than just controlling pests; it's an investment. It drives up yield, raises profit margins, reduces manual labour, improves food quality, aids exports, and shields farmers from unpredictable stresses.

Now let’s dig into the specific ways farmers shield their crops from common threats like pests, diseases, and wild animals.

What are the Methods of Crop Protection?

Crop protection refers to a suite of methods aimed at guarding crops from pests, weeds, pathogens, and external threats. These methods range from traditional practises to advanced biological and technological solutions. India benefits from a combination of these methods, tailored to regional needs in national programmes and local farming systems.

1. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A holistic system combining multiple techniques to maintain pest levels below harmful thresholds. Core strategies include

• Cultural: Crop rotation, debris removal, seed treatment and adjusting sowing schedules.

• Mechanical/Physical: Hand-picking, pheromone and sticky traps, bird perches.

• Biological: Conservation and release of predators (e.g., Trichogramma), parasitic wasps, nematodes and microbes.

• Chemical (last resort): Limited and targeted use of pesticides based on monitoring and economic thresholds.

2. Traditional & Non-Pesticide Management

This includes time-tested and organic-friendly methods:

• Botanical sprays, such as neem, garlic, and chilli extracts.

• Trap/intercropping crops, using marigold, Desmodium, and maize border crops to divert pests

• Soil solarisation, raising soil temperature under plastic mulch to eliminate pests and weeds

3. Biological Control

Using living organisms to suppress crop pests without synthetic chemicals:

• Predatory mites for controlling whiteflies and thrips.

• Parasitic wasps, nematodes targeting caterpillars, and borers.

• Microbial agents, e.g., Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria fungi

Indian labs mass‑rear such organisms (e.g., reduviid predators, nematodes for nuts and vegetables) for release programmes.

4. Chemical Methods

These are applied when other options are insufficient and pest damage approaches economic injury levels. Best practises include:

• Choosing selective, low-toxicity agents (e.g., neem-based, Bt-based).

• Spot or strip application, avoiding broad spraying.

• Respecting waiting times before harvest

This careful use prevents resistance and harm to non-target organisms.

5. Regulatory Measures

Government-enforced seed and plant material inspections, domestic and international quarantine systems, and bans on substandard inputs protect crops from imported threats.

6. Agro-Tech & Digital Tools

Emerging technology is adding precision and timeliness:

• Drones equipped with AI for scouting and targeted spraying over acreage.

• Mobile apps and pest-warning bulletins that support IPM and regional planning.

7. Biofumigation

Integrating Brassica or sorghum biomass into the soil under plastic film releases natural fumigants that reduce soil pests while enriching soil fertility.

Also Read: 8 Modern Farming Methods of Agriculture: Techniques Included

India’s crop protection toolbox encompasses a diverse range of approaches, including organic sprays, trap crops, scientific IPM systems, biological agents, and digital precision tools. This multi-layered strategy enables farmers to respond to challenges in real-world conditions, manage pests, enhance their resilience, and promote sustainable practises.

Leher adds speed and accuracy to this mix. With 30,000+ acres sprayed and 90% water saved, Leher’s drones help apply inputs only where needed, cutting waste and labour. Farmers using the Leher report can achieve up to 40% input savings while reaching fields faster, even during peak seasons. With 2100+ satisfied users, it's built for real-world farming.

Download the Leher app from Google Play or the App Store.

Methods aside, here’s a look at how these practises are used on actual farms, across various regions, crops, and conditions.

How Do Farmers Protect Their Crops from Predators, Diseases and Pests?

Indian farmers employ a combination of traditional strategies, scientific practises, community efforts, and technology to protect their crops. Drawing from national programmes and local innovations, these methods offer layered protection against pests, diseases, wildlife, and environmental pressures.

1. Field Hygiene & Cultural Practises

Simple yet effective steps reduce pest and disease pressure:

• Deep summer ploughing, removal of plant debris, and disinfecting tools reduce carry-over of insect eggs and pathogens

• Farmers use certified seeds and protect young plants with fungicide or biopesticide dip.

• Crop rotation, precise sowing times, balanced fertilisation and water management (e.g., alternate wetting and drying) limit disease and pest build-up.

2. Physical & Mechanical Measures

These non-chemical tactics help control pests and animals:

• Handpicking insects, light or pheromone traps, sticky yellow pans, and bird perches catch whiteflies, egg masses, and caterpillars

• Fencing, scarecrows, watchtowers, and community patrols guard against monkeys, boars, or elephants.

• In Uttar Pradesh, farmers have even devised scare tactics, such as wearing bear costumes, to deter monkeys.

3. Botanical & Non-Pesticidal Management

Traditional plant-based solutions remain popular:

• Neem oil sprays, leaf extracts, or neem cake applied in maize fields can reduce fall armyworm damage.

• Panchgavya (cow-urine-based) boosts plant resilience and repels pests like aphids and leaf miners.

• Chilli-garlic sprays and other herbal concoctions are regularly mixed on farms for pest control.

4. Trap Cropping, Companion & Intercropping

Strategic planting draws pests away or masks crops:

• Edge planting of mustard, marigold, radish or sorghum draws stem borers and whiteflies away from main crops.

• Push-pull methods (e.g., Desmodium between maize and Napier grass) help manage stem borers by pushing pests away and pulls them towards trap plants and crops to lure them away.

• Companion plants, such as basil, mint, coriander, and marigold, support predatory insects and mask the scent of host crops.

5. Biological Control

Farmers use natural enemies, culture-backed and endorsed by national programmes:

• Mass rearing of predators and parasites, like Trichogramma wasps, nematodes, spiders, and ladybugs, is encouraged by IPM initiatives.

• Small-field insect-zoo exercises help farmers distinguish pests from beneficial insects.

6. IPM Under National Programmes

State-supported IPM blends these methods with regular monitoring:

• Weekly field scouting, pest-defender ratios, and the use of economic threshold triggers guide interventions.

• Spot or strip application of bio-pesticides, such as neem or Bt, combined with limited chemical use, is encouraged.

• MoA’s Farmers’ Field Schools train farmers and issue pest alerts across key crops like rice, cotton, potato, and pulses.

7. Wildlife Deterrence & Living Barriers

For wild animal threats, innovative ecological approaches are gaining ground:

• In Karnataka, beehive fences repel elephants and provide a source of honey income; no elephant incursions were recorded after their deployment.

• In Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar, planting thorny or aromatic species, such as Agave and Timur, deters monkeys and boars while offering marketable products.

• In Maharashtra, vineyards use surveillance drones equipped with automated bird scatterers, which reduce avian losses by approximately 60%.

8. Precision & Digital Tools

New tech enhances monitoring, early detection, and responsive action:

• AI-equipped drones detect disease early, e.g., cashew leaf anthracnose detection accuracy reached over 95%, and facilitate targeted pesticide application.

• Farmers use mobile advisories, pest alerts and regional bulletins linked to IPM programmes to time interventions precisely.

Protection of crops is a multifaceted process, encompassing hygiene and herbs, as well as technology and teamwork. Indian farmers combine centuries-old wisdom with modern science, guided by national IPM systems, to reduce losses from insects, disease, and wildlife.

These multi-tiered approaches deliver yield stability, rural prosperity, and improved crop quality while promoting eco-friendly farming and responsible resource use.

Let’s now examine proven strategies that combine tools, timing, and expertise to keep crops safe throughout the season.

What are the Strategies of Crop Protection?

Farmers in India employ a combination of traditional knowledge, scientific methods, community initiatives, and modern technologies to protect crops against pests, diseases, and wildlife.

These strategies are woven into regional programmes, eco-friendly systems, and grassroots initiatives.

1. Cultural & Field Management

Deep-rooted traditions that reduce pest pressure:

• Residue removal and summer fallow ploughing involve lying fallow or removing crop debris after harvest to eliminate pests and disease reservoirs.

• Crop rotation and mixed cropping, such as pearl millet with legumes in Rajasthan, disrupt pest life cycles and support soil fertility.

• Seed treatment with ash, neem cake, or biopesticide boosts germination and fights fungal pathogens.

2. Mechanical & Physical Interventions

Hands-on tactics to intercept pests and wildlife:

• Traps, whether sticky or pheromone-based, catch insects before damage can spread.

• Hand-picking caterpillars or egg masses is common in small holdings.

• Fencing, scarecrows, watchtowers, and community patrols protect crops from monkeys, wild boars, and elephants.

3. Biological Control

Supporting natural enemies to suppress pest outbreaks:

• Predatory wasps, Trichogramma, nematodes, and predatory mites are released under IPM

• In-field “insect zoos” help farmers distinguish helpful bugs from pests.

4. Trap Cropping & Push–Pull Methods

Strategic planting to divert or repel pests:

• Trap crops (mustard, marigold) or border grasses attract pests away from main crops.

• Push–pull: Desmodium planted between maize repels pests, while Napier grass borders lure them; this method also suppresses Striga weed.

5. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

A tiered method based on monitoring and thresholds:

• Regular scouting and use of economic thresholds to guide action.

• Phased use of cultural, biological, mechanical, and then chemical controls.

• National support includes field schools, pheromone traps, bird perches, and microbial seed coatings.

In Maharashtra, Jalna district saw a more than 50% reduction in pesticide sprays and higher yields (~19.5 q/ha vs. 17.3 q/ha) after adopting IPM over 3,000 ha, involving over 2,500 farmers.

6. Chemical Use, Cautiously Applied

Careful application to minimise risks:

• Pesticides are used only after other methods fail, and only below damage thresholds.

• Focus on selective agents, proper dosing, waiting periods, and spot or strip application.

7. Digital & Precision Tools

Modern tech entering rural fields:

• Drones detect and spray precisely. Leher is an Indian agri-drone platform focused on making drone spraying simple, accessible, and affordable for farmers. Instead of buying and managing drones themselves, farmers can book drone spraying services through the Leher app.

• Satellite alerts, mobile advisories, and crowdsourced pest surveillance help time interventions.

Also Read: Future of Agriculture: Key Technology Innovations - Leher

Strategies in Indian crop protection combine traditional and scientific methods for a layered defence. Farmers start with cultural care, then add mechanical barriers, botanical repellents, biological control, structured trap cropping, guided pesticide use, and precision technology. This mosaic adapts to local conditions, protects yields, cuts costs, and boosts sustainability.

For farmers who want to simplify crop care without cutting corners, here’s how Leher supports smart, timely protection, every step of the way.

How Leher Can Help Farmers Protect Their Crops?

Losing crops to pests, wild animals, or fungal infections can feel like taking one step forward and two steps back. You put in the work, tilling, sowing, watering, only to watch your yield drop due to something you couldn’t catch in time.

And let’s face it, manually spraying every acre or spotting early signs of damage is easier said than done.

Leher brings modern solutions directly to your fields, without complicating things further.

Here’s how Leher helps farmers like you protect your crops with less stress, less waste, and better results:

• Catch Problems Early, Before They Spread: Leher’s drones give you a bird’s eye view of your farm. That means you can quickly spot areas hit by pests or disease, before they become a full-blown crisis. No need to walk every row or guess what’s going wrong.

• Precision Spraying, Without the Backache: Manual spraying is time-consuming, uneven, and often wastes chemicals. Leher’s drones spray evenly across each acre, reaching the right height and targeting only the areas that need it, saving up to 40% on input use.

• Protect Your Crops, Not Just This Season: Consistent spraying with drones keeps pest cycles under control year-round. That means your crops stay healthy for longer, and you spend less money battling repeat infestations.

• Safer for You and the Environment: No more carrying heavy tanks or exposing yourself to strong chemicals. Leher’s no-contact drone spraying protects your health while reducing runoff and pesticide overuse.

• Pay-As-You-Go, No Equipment Needed: Worried about the cost of buying a drone? You don’t need to. With Leher’s Drone-as-a-Service model, you book only when you need it. A trained pilot arrives, sprays, and you pay after the job is done.

Protecting your crops shouldn’t feel like a gamble every season. With Leher, you can take smarter steps without more work.

Book your first drone spray today. Download the Leher App on the Play Store and Apple Store today.

FAQs

1. Can plants “warn” each other about pest attacks, and do farmers use this knowledge?

Yes. Some plants release chemical signals (like volatile organic compounds) when under pest attack, which nearby plants can detect, triggering their defence mechanisms. Although not yet mainstream, researchers are exploring how to utilise this in natural crop protection strategies.

2. How do farmers protect crops in remote or hilly regions where machines can’t reach?

In such areas, farmers often rely on traditional knowledge, like using cow dung ash, neem oil, or manually placed traps. Drones are now emerging as an accessible tool for spraying and monitoring even on steep or uneven terrain.

3. Do certain crops naturally protect others when planted together?

Yes. This is called companion planting. For example, marigolds deter nematodes in vegetable beds, and planting basil near tomatoes can help reduce pest infestations. Farmers use such pairings to reduce reliance on chemicals and create a natural barrier against threats.

4. How do farmers decide the right time to spray for pests or diseases?

Rather than relying on guesswork, many farmers now use pest threshold levels, local weather data, or AI-based alerts that take into account factors such as humidity, rainfall, and crop stage. Timing the spray correctly avoids waste and improves results.

5. Are there crop protection methods that also improve soil health?

Yes. Techniques such as trap cropping, bio-pesticides, and cover cropping not only reduce pests but also support soil microbes, reduce erosion, and increase organic matter, offering dual benefits without the need for heavy chemical use.