DOST-CALABARZON, through the Provincial Science and Technology of Rizal (PSTC-Rizal), conducted the “Training on Pest Management Systems” for the Angono New Normal Farmers’ Association (ANNFA) last 17 February, at the Training Hall of the DOST PSTC-Rizal Building in Antipolo, Rizal, 8am to 1pm.
Attended by 30 participants, the activity is under the project, “Employing Hydroponics and Community Vegetable Gardening Technologies to alleviate COVID-19 Threats to Food Security in Selected Municipalities in Region IV-A” which aims to capacitate elderly farmers in quality food production and sufficiency. The project was funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD).
Mr. Fernando E. Ablaza, Provincial Director of the PSTC-Rizal, gave his welcome remarks. Meanwhile, Ms. Niña Sherylle S. Giron, Science Research Specialist II of the PSTC-Rizal, introduced the resource speakers.
Intended to increase productivity and efficiency in vegetable production, the said training is the third from its series which was initiated on 17 December of last year. According to Ms. Giron, there are a total of six trainings programmed for the ANNFA. These trainings involve lectures with experts and a short question and answer segment from the participants themselves. The resource speakers for the event were Mr. Villamor A. Ladia, Jr., University Researcher II, and Dr. Lourdes D. Taylo, University Researcher III from the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), University of the Philippines Los Baños.
Mr. Ladia discussed various Vegetable Farming Technologies and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), emphasizing the importance of vegetable gardening and each stage of the process—from planning, preparing, and managing your garden. He also introduced the Container Garden and its benefits in terms of costs and pest control.
Meanwhile, Dr. Taylo, in her presentation, “Wasto at Ligtas na Pamamahala ng Peste sa Gulayan”, cited common pests in vegetable production. She also offered organic ways on how to manage these pests such as crop rotation, improvement of soil quality, planting of companion crops and sacrificial or trap plants, and many more.
Dr. Taylo also shared a few pest management technologies from the IPB like the SNAP (Simple Nutrient Addition Program) hydroponic system, the Container Garden as previously discussed by Mr. Ladia, and the Mykovam and Mykoplus Biofertilizers from UPLB BIOTECH to promote plant growth.| – Halyn Lunel A. Gamboa/dost/bnn
