Attraction in Action project attracts yard-long bean farmers in Cambodia, promotes IPM in Lao PDR
These beans mean business and better nutrition for farmers and consumers in Cambodia and Lao PDR.
Examining the yard-long bean plants at close range.
A total of 68 participants including 24 women gathered at a yard-long bean field in Kandal Krom Village in Banteay Dek Commune, Kean Svay district of the Kandal Province on 17 November 2017 to see the effectiveness of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy based on biopesticides. This was the second farmers’ field day on IPM in yard-long bean organized by the Department of Plant Protection, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (DPPSPS), General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA) in Cambodia under WorldVeg’s Attraction in Action project, funded by BMZ/GIZ.
Mr. Chhunhy Heng (Deputy Director, DPPSPS) welcomed the gathering and explained the project activities in Cambodia and the new IPM technologies which we validated in Kandal, Prey Veng and Kampong Chhnang provinces. Dr. Srinivasan Ramasamy (WorldVeg’s Lead Entomologist and the Project Manager) provided a brief account of project activities in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam, and explained the need for IPM technologies in yard-long bean in Cambodia. Mr. Buntuon Simona (Director, Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kandal Province) outlined the potential of Kandal province in producing and supplying various vegetables, and stressed the need for adopting innovative technologies for year-round as well as safer vegetable production. Dr. Ker Monthivuth (Director, DPPSPS) mentioned that pests and diseases continued to be the major production constraint in vegetable crops, and that pesticide use has increased drastically over the years. He stressed the need for adopting biopesticides and pheromones to align with the standards of Cambodian Good Agriculture Practices (CamGAP).
Participants viewed field plots with different biopesticides and pheromones, and saw the differences between the IPM plots and the plots treated following farmers’ practices. Representatives from the private sector (Hoang Long Mekong and Eco-Agri Co. Ltd.), iDE, Kbal Koh Vegetable Research Station, PDAFF – Kandal, partner organizations (The Netherlands Development Organisation, SNV) and the media also attended the event. The event was telecast on two TV channels: National Television of Kampuchea (TVK) (https://youtu.be/C77yV4atK3k) and Bayon Television (BTN) (https://youtu.be/9cinmopQDlo).
Dr. Ker Monthivuth addressed the field day participants.
Farmers prepare yard-long bean for the market.
Story and photos: Srinivasan Ramasamy
IPM for brassica and legumes in Lao PDR
Dr. KRM Bhanu, General Manager (Pheromones) of Biocontrol Research Laboratories, talked about using pheromones in the field to trap and monitor pests.
A total of 40 participants including 14 women gathered at Phaxang village, in Kasi district of Vientiane Province on 22 November 2017 to see the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies based on bio-pesticides in yard-long bean and vegetable brassicas. This was the second farmers’ field day on IPM organized by the Clean Agriculture Development Center (CADC), Department of Agriculture (DoA) in Lao PDR under WorldVeg’s Attraction in Action project, funded by BMZ/GIZ.
Mr. Khamsod Phetlavanh (Governor, Kasi district, Vientiane Province) was the chief guest for the field day. Dr. Srinivasan Ramasamy (WorldVeg Lead Entomologist) briefly explained the activities of the Attraction in Action project in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam. He also highlighted the importance of adopting newly developed IPM strategies to tackle pests on yard-long bean and leafy brassicas.
Finally, Mr. Soukhavong Khodsimouang briefed various activities in the project in Vientiane province and peri-urban Vientiane City. The Directors, District Agriculture and Forestry Office (DAFO), Vang Vieng and Kasi districts, and the Final Workshop participants from Cambodia, India, Kenya, Taiwan, and Thailand also participated in the Field Day.
During a visit to IPM field demonstration sites. Mr. Chansamone Phommachan (Technical Officer, CADC) explained the various IPM components in use and the participants got the opportunity to compare the IPM plots with farmers’ practice plots (which is mainly calendar-based pesticide spraying). Representatives from the private sector, PAFO of Vientiane province, DAFO of Vang Vieng and Kasi districts, and the media also attended the event. The event was telecast under the ‘Lao Today’ variety program in Lao Star TV channel (https://youtu.be/clOeYB6L6Pg).
The president of a local Farmers’ Association shared his experience during the field day.
