Strengthening the implementation of IPM program

11:21, October 18, 2023

BHG - On January 7, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan 04/KH-UBND on implementing the integrated pest management (IPM) program on key crops with economic value and export potential in Ha Giang province for the period 2021-2025. After 2 years, the IPM program has shown initial results and continues to be actively implemented.

The IPM program is a pest management system that uses appropriate technical means and measures to limit the harmful effects of pests and diseases, helping crops achieve high productivity and good agricultural product quality. The IPM program has been widely and effectively implemented in the province since 2015 on the basis of Decision No. 2027 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development approving the Project to promote the application of IPM on crops in the period 2015 - 2020. Through the implementation of IPM models that have shown clear effectiveness, people can directly participate in both learning and practicing right in the field, so it is easy to apply. Thereby, they know how to manage plant pests, limit the harmful effects of diseases, know how to care for crops to achieve high productivity, ensure quality, and minimize the use of chemicals. According to the assessment, IPM models on rice, tea, and oranges in the period of 2015 - 2020 have contributed to helping farmers reduce the amount of seeds by 15-30%, reduce the use of chemical pesticides by 25-35%, reduce inorganic fertilizers by 15-25%, reduce irrigation water by 25-30%, increase the use of biological pesticides by 5-10%, increase productivity by 15-22.5%, and increase the use of organic fertilizers by 25-35%.

Training of trainers on integrated pest management (TOTIPM) on orange trees in Bac Quang.

Based on the results and lessons learned from the implementation of the IPM program in the period of 2015 - 2020, Plan No. 04 of the Provincial People's Committee identifies the goal for the period of 2021 - 2025, the province will train more qualified key lecturers to guide farmers in applying IPM on rice, oranges, tea and more than 500 farming households and cooperatives to understand and apply IPM. Over 50% of the New Rural communes producing key crops with high economic value and export potential in the province have a core team of farmers with knowledge, skills and effective application of IPM. Over 50% of farming households in key agricultural production areas understand and apply IPM. Over 30% of the area of key crops with high economic value and export potential apply IPM. For key food crops (rice, corn) and long-term industrial crops, fruit trees (key areas), 30% of the area fully applies IPM; over 50% of farming households understand and apply IPM; reduce the amount of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, seeds, irrigation water and increase productivity by 10-15% respectively.

Implementing Plan No. 04, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has coordinated with the People's Committees of districts and cities to direct specialized agencies to advise on the organization and implementation of epidemic prevention work. Establishing a Steering Committee for epidemic prevention and control from the provincial to communal levels; organizing 62 training courses with 2,265 people and commune and town officials participating in learning about production processes and identification and prevention of some major plant diseases, investigation, detection, prediction and forecasting of plant pests; building 3 models of transferring the application of scientific and technological advances in pest prevention and control for people on corn resistant to fall armyworm, 1 model using organic fertilizer, 2 rice-fish models. Opening 1 training course on human resources on IPM on rice for districts and cities with trainees being rural extension workers and farming households of Phuong Thien commune (Ha Giang city). In coordination with Ha Giang Television, Ha Giang Newspaper built a propaganda column on the IPM program. Organized training courses on propaganda and guidance for people on the use of pesticides with 2,265 participants.

Head of the Department of Cultivation and Plant Protection Giang Duc Hiep shared: The greatest result in implementing the IPM Program in recent years is that there have been no widespread epidemics in the province, and crop yields have been stable according to the province's targets such as: Tea area is estimated at over 20,000 hectares, with an average annual output of fresh tea buds estimated at over 88,000 tons; orange area is estimated at 5,348 hectares, with an average orange output of 65,000 tons; rice area is estimated at over 37,000 hectares, with an average output of 218,000 tons; corn area is estimated at 55,000 hectares, with an average output of 195,000 tons.

The implementation of IPM on crops has gradually achieved the program's goal of helping crops grow well through technical measures such as fertilization, care, weed control, etc. Thereby increasing crop productivity, regulating the balance in the field ecosystem, protecting beneficial natural enemies to control and destroy pests. Along with that, the goal is to train farmers to become experts in the field by transferring technical advances in the form of "hand-holding, showing how to do", from which farmers can choose management measures suitable for their field conditions and their own conditions. This is the basis for enhancing the position as well as affirming the brand of clean agricultural products, contributing to increasing farmers' income and creating the foundation for forming agricultural production areas in the direction of goods in the province.

Article and photos: Duy Tuan

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