Pest Management Strategies for Selected Highlands Crops

Speaker Bio: Marites A. Alimurung is from La Trinidad, Benguet. She is one of the researchers at Baguio National Crop Research Development and Production Support Center (BNCRDPSC) at the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department of Agriculture, Philippines.  She is currently involved in organic agriculture programs on seed production, training, and production of biological control agents.  She finished her Master of Science in Agriculture and specialized in Entomology at Benguet State University where she also finished her Bachelors Degree in Agriculture major in Entomology, minor in Plant Pathology.  

Abstract: Production of high-valued vegetables and fruit crops are major source of income of farmers in the Cordillera Region Philippines. With favourable climate and good cultural management practices, farmers are having good income from their crops. However, the attack of different pests and diseases is a big problem and to have better production, farmers mostly control pests and diseases using toxic pesticides which are readily available in the market. At present, the use of toxic chemicals for pest and disease management are being discouraged due to the different side effects to human and the environment. Safe and environment-friendly practices are being promoted and could be and integrated into the different production system in the locality for improved and sustainable production.