LOS BAǸOS, Laguna -- Climate change triggers major changes on pest and diseases infestation pattern, the Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) said in its advisory Thursday.
ATI said these changes would have major implications for crop protection and food security, particularly in developing countries such as the Philippines where the need to increase and sustain food production is most urgent.
Some of the various pests and diseases include fruit borer, aphids, bacterial wilt, and other causal agent such as nematodes.
"Farmers have been directly affected by the unpredictable occurrence of pest and diseases," said ATI Project Officer Vira Elyssa L. Jamolin.
In support of DA's Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM), ATI Region 4-A in collaboration with Region Crop Protection Center Region 4-A spearheaded a three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on Pests and Diseases Diagnosis and Management for High Value Crops, specifically in vegetables, on June 6-8, 2018 at Arisabel Clubhouse here.
Jamolin shared Thursday that ToT was in support of DA’s IPM Program - the national guidelines for crop management especially on rice and enforced through DA Special Order No. 495 and Memorandum Order No. 126 (KASALIKASAN).
She said the training aimed to capacitate the participants in determining and monitoring major pests and diseases of selected high value commercial crops and understand their management options.
DA’s IPM program also pushes for natural means to manage pests instead of using pesticides which not only adds to the farmers’ production cost but also poses health and environmental hazards.
Some 26 Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs), selected Magsasaka Siyentista, and potential Learning Site farm cooperators learned about the various pests and diseases such as fruit borer, aphids, bacterial wilt, and other causal agent such as nematodes during their hands-on exercise at the Municipal Agriculture Office of Los Baños, Laguna nursery. (PNA)
