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| DA-VI Bio-control Laboratory in Malapad Cogon, Sigma, Capiz (Photos of DA-RAFID RFU VI) |
Through the Research Outreach Station (ROS), DA-6 also gathered farmers and local government units in Capiz for the 2nd Farmers Field Day on September 25.
The DA seeks to enable upland farmers improve their production volume without causing harm to the environment.
“We are here to share research technologies to farmers which are appropriate to upland areas. We campaign for soil conservation practices so that we could preserve its fertility and increase our crop production,” said Lilia Peñaranda, Capiz ROS Center chief.
Provincial Agriculturist Sylvia Dela Cruz told the farmers that the agricultural practices should be coupled with environment-friendly technologies.
“We also have to give value to government subsidies such as farm inputs and postharvest facilities,” she added.
To support the initiative, the DA-6 Regional Crop Protection Center established a biological control laboratory at Capiz ROS to control insect pests of priority crops.
According to DA-6, the bio-control lab was put up to have a ready supply of biological agents in the ROS to be used by farmers within the area of coverage and to train personnel on mass-production and utilization of these biological agents.
Manuela Alviar of the RCPC explained that this laboratory is expected to address the problem on pesticides’ hazards to environment and to human health as it will be a production venue for Trichogramma, an insect used by farmers to protect crops from pest infestations.
The bio-control building with rearing cages, shelves, tables and refrigerators has an estimated cost of P900, 000. (The Daily Guardian/SMHToreno)
