The Philippines - experts push for multi-tactic approach against vegetable pest

Crop Life Philippines and the Insecticide Resistant Action Committee (IRAC), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) Bio-technology Office and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) is pushing for Integrated Pest Management in dealing with the problem of pests becoming resistant to pesticides.

This was the objective of the Trainers Training workshop on Insecticide Resistant Management (IRM) for vegetables the group held at the Benguet State University (BSU) here last Tuesday, in cooperation with the BSU’s Department of Entomology.

In a press conference, Cris Michelina of CropLife explained that they have compounds that are effective against vegetable pests although studies show that there is a resistance growing among the insect population. This is why they are spearheading the advocacy of IRM program to farmers, provincial/municipal agricultural officers, and other stakeholders nationwide.

According to Dr. Candida Adalla, head of DA’s bio-tech office, IRM involves an Integrated Pest Management that should be multi-tactic approach, that includes good agronomy, cultural management, biological control, and the use of bio-tech (BT) crops or the so-called genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Contrary to the advocacy of some groups, Adalla stressed that an effective IPM should include pesticide on its options as there are situation that there is no option available but to use pesticides.

"It should co-exist. Organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer or pesticides. At the moment we have not yet put in place all the needed support system for organic farming. For example, if we encounter a pest outbreak what organic fertilizer should we use,” Adalla said.

Adalla also assured that gone are the days of the harmful pesticides and for the effect of inorganic fertilizers on the soil’s acidity, she said they already have a cure that can address such problem.

Adalla bared that it is the position of DA under Secretary Proceso Alcala, "that we have to produce what the country needs and through whatever options available. Organic farming is still the banner program of the Agriculture Department."

For the BT crops, Adalla affirmed that 60 percent of corn crops now use the BT corn variety, which is a pest-resistant variety.

In addition, Adalla also announced that government, through the UPLB, is now developing a BT Talong (eggplant), which is now under field testing in various parts of the country. If perfected, it can benefit both small farmers and large farming entrepreneurs.

"So it is not only using one tactic or control method, not only chemical or biological but we must also use resistant variety of crops, this is where the genetically modified crops will enter”, Adalla said.