Manila Prince Hotel | On the second day of the DA-NUPAP Conference 2024, held on October 24, discussions continued on integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, emphasizing their importance in effective pest control.
Dr. Analiza Henedina M. Ramirez, a professor at the Institute of Weed Science, Entomology, and Plant Pathology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), emphasizes the often-overlooked significance of pest management, particularly weeds. She explained that urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) is the cultivation of crops around city boundaries to meet urban consumers’ food and product demands. Dr. Ramirez called for enhanced collaboration among farmers, industries, and government bodies to improve weed management practices in UPA.
Jose Emmanuel I. De Luna, an assistant professor at UPLB-IWEP, presented insights on storage insect pests, including weevils that threaten post-harvest commodities such as cereals and grains.
Dr. Celia D.R. Medina, also from UPLB-IWEP, discussed strategies to combat insecticide resistance, warning that excessive insecticide use without significant pest reduction could intensify resistant populations.
Mark Angelo O. Balendres, PhD., a professor at DeLa Salle University, discussed the identification and management of common plant diseases affecting urban and peri-urban crops and highlighted the detrimental effects of diseases on plant health and productivity.
During the opening forum, participants discussed the importance of tillage for plant growth, emphasizing conservation tillage to minimize soil disturbance, explored ways to prevent parasites in growing areas, suggested planting upland kangkong for better manageability, and recommended hermetic sealing as an effective pest management practice for small-scale grain storage.
In her presentation, Mary Joyce Villacorte-Gaviola, Program Manager at East-West Seed PH Foundation, played a video highlighting various types of pests categorized by their feeding habits. She also introduced mulching with banana leaves as an effective method for pest control. Emphasizing the broader importance of agriculture, she quoted Reddy Sai, stating, “Agriculture is not just farming; it’s feeding.”
Sherwin A. Hermosa, Assistant Vice President at LEADS, highlighted the importance of using products to target specific pests to achieve optimal control, advocating for eco-friendly pest management solutions.
Regine Reyes, SPS Technical and Business Development Lead at Syngenta stressed the importance of regular inspections and non-chemical controls, noting that disrupting pests’ access to food, water, and shelter is crucial for effective management.
Carla Kristine M. Silva Alumna Scholar, National Taiwan University talked about using deep learning to identify and measure the severity of leaf diseases. She also shared how AI technology is being applied to leaf disease management in Taiwan.
During the closing forum, participants engaged in an open discussion addressing various topics such as whether to use bio-pesticides, with responses highlighting the pros and cons of both bio-pesticides and PIPs. Other inquiries involved the availability of biofumigants, the applicability of fumigation in gardens, and the possibility of detecting multiple diseases.
The DA-NUPAP Conference 2024 aims to foster collaboration and innovation in pest management strategies, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices in urban and peri-urban settings.
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