3. Create Nesting Sites for Frogs, Reptiles and Birds ~ Logs of dead trees, irregularly shaped rocks with crevices and cavities and plenty of mulch can be a good nesting sites for snakes, lizards, frogs, rove beetles and carabid beetles, which feed on insects.

4. Increase Humidity by Providing Water Holes -- Humidity is much needed for the survival of natural enemies. It serves as a source of drinking water for reptiles, birds and frogs. Many predatory insects live in, on and near water. Well-vegetated small dams, little water pools and swales scattered throughout the garden will create conditions for the build-up of natural enemies.

5. Practice Mixed Cultivation -- Growing mixed crops and harvesting them in strips help maintain natural enemies and confuses pests. For fungal pathogens, the practice of mixed cropping is desirable as the root exudates of another crop can be toxic to the pathogen. Mixed cropping also encourages soil microbes which, in turn, act as barriers to the fungal pathogen.

6. Reduce Dust Build up in Crop Plants -- Dust inhibits the functioning of natural enemies. Growing well-designed windbreaks and ground cover crops like centrosema and lablab bean will reduce dust. Use of overhead sprinklers will also help periodically in washing off the dust.

7. Avoid Spraying Chemical Pesticides -- Chemical pesticides eliminate beneficial insects. If pest infestation reaches economic threshold levels and spraying cannot be avoided, use selective chemicals, such as:

a soil incorporated granular systemic insecticides for sucking insects;

b. stomach poisons; avoid broad-spectrum contact poisons; and,

c. insecticides with short-term residual action rather than persistent action.