Five for five
Enterprising vegetable growers demonstrate skills and knowledge gained through two WorldVeg projects.
Enterprising vegetable growers demonstrate skills and knowledge gained through two WorldVeg projects.
The Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences (VAAS) organized a field day on integrated pest management (IPM) under WorldVeg’s Attraction in Action project, funded by BMZ/GIZ.
On 17 March 2017, Thomas Dubois, Regional Director, WorldVeg Eastern and Southern Africa Tanzania, and Henry Wainwright, managing director and founder of RealIPM, signed a hosting agreement that will see both organizations work closer together to combat pests and diseases through biological control.
Forty-four farmers including 20 women from Phaxang, Nadao, Phatang and Soksay villages gathered at Phaxang village in Kasi district of Vientiane Province, Lao PDR on 6 December 2016 to see the effectiveness of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies based on biopesticides on yard-long bean and vegetable brassicas. -- MORE --
This project designs alternative options for insect pest management and will set the stage for partners to promote and popularize these options.
Insect pheromones can be used to monitor, mass-trap, and/or disrupt the mating process of insect pests. Such traps are highly effective in reducing the damage and yield losses caused by monophagous insects such as eggplant fruit and shoot borer (Leucinodes orbonalis), as demonstrated in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia by the World Vegetable Center.
Seed kernel extracts of China berry (Melia azedarach) against oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) and tomato fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera), and commercial neem formulations containing azadirachtin (Biofree-I® and Thai neem 111®) against the legume pod borer (Maruca vitrata) were tested in Taiwan and Thailand to confirm their effects on oviposition, feeding, growth and development. Various extracts from M. azedarach seed kernels significantly reduced the oviposition of B. dorsalis and the efficacy was similar to Biofree-I®. The green drupe and dry seed kernel extracts of M. azedarach substantially increased larval mortality, and reduced successful pupation, pupal weight, adult emergence, fecundity and egg hatch of H. armigera larvae. Commercial neem formulations exhibited adverse morphogenic effects on various biological parameters of M. vitrata, but they did not reduce oviposition and egg hatch. M. azedarach extracts and commercial neem formulations can be employed together for the sustainable management of B. dorsalis, H. armigera and M. vitrata.
This study aims to identify challenges as well as entry points for governments in Southeast Asia and elsewhere to reduce the risk from agricultural pesticides by comparing levels of pesticide use, pesticide regulation, and farm-level practices in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. We identified three main challenges to pesticide risk reduction: (a) the rapid expansion of pesticide tradein terms of total volume, number of products and number of selling points, combined with a weak regulatory and enforcement capacity; (b) a high level of satisfaction among farmers with pesticides combined with low levels of risk awareness, lack of technical know-how about integrated pest management (IPM), andgeneral unavailability of biocontrol agents; and (c) no regular monitoring of pesticide risk, which makes it difficult for legislators, regulators, farmers and consumers to make rational decisions. The study highlights several examples countries can emulate, including the introduction of a pesticide tax inVietnam, the pesticide registration system in Thailand, regular training of pesticide retailers in Thailand and Vietnam, and product certification.
Greater investment is needed in the development of integrated pest management in the long-term, and health problems may be reduced in the short-term by raising awareness among farmers regarding the risks they are exposing themselves to, as well as by promoting good agricultural practices.
Tuta absoluta is a recent arrival in East Africa and it poses serious threats to vegetable producers, especially tomato growers. AVRDC hosted a workshop to inform and educate government and private sector partners about control options.