stingless wasp (source: startribune.com)

The Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas has established three village-based trichogramma laboratories in Guimaras Island to promote a natural method of pest control.

Trichogramma, commonly known as stingless wasps, serves as a biological control agent in controlling pests that infest rice, corn and vegetables. “These wasps are eco-friendly and don’t have bad effects on the environment unlike synthetic pesticides,” Ms. Curioso said. She added that trichogramma is a low-cost but effective technology that farming families can employ to minimize the use of synthetic insecticides.

Over 4,000 hectares of rice fields in 10 towns in Iloilo were recently attacked by brown and green leaf hoppers. Over 1,000 hectares were destroyed, said Iloilo provincial agriculturist Ildefonso T. Toledo. The infestation is seen to reduce Iloilo’s rice production by at least 30% this year, Mr. Ildefonso added. Affected crops were in the vegetative, reproductive and ripening stages.

Roselyn B. Curioso of the regional crop center said the laboratories are located in barangays Igcawayan and Constancia in the town of San Lorenzo, and Dasal in Sibunag. Eight more village laboratories will be established in the whole region — four in Antique, three in Iloilo, and one in Negros Occidental.

The trichogramma laboratories are managed by the farmers’ associations. Aside from trichogramma, the farmers are also producing organic fertilizer to lower the cost of production of rice, corn and vegetables. Members of the farmers’ organizations attended hands-on training on the mass production of trichogramma in the barangays.

Original Article: Farmers Help Produce Stingless Wasps to Manage Pests, Use Less Chemicals by Francis Allan L. Angelo in Business Mirror on October 20, 2010

Other PinoyEcoFarmer Posts That You May Like

  • December 2, 2011 -- PinoyEcoFarm November
    the chicken eggs became "Ice Age" dinosaur eggs [flagallery gid=27 name="Gallery" w=520 h=520] November was fun at PinoyEcoFarm. We had small harvests of peanuts and stringbeans from the first trial plantings. We also organized and put more worms (African Night Crawlers) in our vermibed to h...
  • November 20, 2011 -- Penalosa Farms in Victorias, Negros Occidental
    Ducks swimming on a carpet of nutrient-rich azolla [flagallery gid=25 name="Gallery" w=520 h=520] An opportunity to visit this odorless and relatively fly-free hog farm presented itself when a environmentalist friend suggested it in our itinerary during our recent Bacolod trip. The owner's s...
  • November 18, 2011 -- Meeting Dr. Roberto Coronel: Fruit Tree Conservationist
    [flagallery gid=20 name="Gallery" w=520 h=520] I already read countless articles about this man who considers fruit tree conservation as  a passion. For most of us who share the same interests, this man is really larger than life. Dr. Roberto Coronel, a retired University of the Philippines Los B...
  • November 12, 2011 -- Dreaming of a Ram Pump
    One of the basic requirements in farming is water. We know we have a good source in the farm but the challenge is how to bring it up. The free-flowing spring near the river is about 45 meters below and for it to be useful we have to pump it up to our farm....
  • August 1, 2011 -- PinoyEcoFarm First Month
    Discussing with Benjie on what needs to be done [flagallery gid=18 name="Gallery" w=520 h=520] We brought in our trusted farmhelp Benjie on July 17, 2011 to start working with us after the green light was given by the sellers that we can start developing the farm. We were all excited. We are...
  • July 20, 2011 -- PinoyEcoFarm Beginnings
    A recent acquisition of about 2,000+ sqm meter farmlot (mid July of this year) somewhere in the highlands of Alfonso spurred a regular weekend love affair with farming....
  • March 23, 2011 -- Things to Consider When Buying a Farm Estate
    For hobbyists, serious farmers and retirees who need to shake off that sedentary lifestyle, what should be their guide in shopping for farm lots, now that these are sprouting like mushrooms all over the land?...
  • March 22, 2011 -- St Paul Dumaguete Promotes Sustainable Organic Farming
    The farm in Calo straddles about 4 hectares of fertile soil with a stream flowing though the boundaries. It is planted to various vegetables that are commonly found in households. ...