In IPM, what is the central objective?

• A. Produce healthy plants that can resist pests.
• B. Eliminate all pests with chemicals only.
• C. Replace soil annually.
• D. Avoid any monitoring.

Answer: (A)

In IPM, the central objective is to keep plants healthy and able to withstand pest pressure, so pest damage stays at a level that doesn’t hurt yield or quality. This is achieved through a mix of practices that reduce reliance on any single tactic: cultural methods like proper irrigation and sanitation to avoid creating pest-friendly conditions, selecting resistant varieties, regular monitoring and economic thresholds to decide when action is needed, and using biological or mechanical controls along with targeted, judicious use of pesticides when necessary. The goal isn’t to eradicate every pest, but to manage populations sustainably and minimize economic and environmental harm.

Other options don’t fit because IPM isn’t about eliminating all pests with chemicals alone, it doesn’t involve replacing soil annually as a core practice, and it relies on ongoing monitoring rather than avoiding it.