๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง.
Published by Crop Pest Management Division
DAY 1
The Bureau of Plant IndustryโCrop Pest Management Division (BPI-CPMD), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), welcomed six (6) participants from Timor-Leste for the week-long training on the mass production and utilization of biological control agents (BCAs) for the management of fall armyworm, which kicked off on October 7, 2024.
The foreign participants are technical staff of Timor-Lesteโs Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, and Fisheries (MALFF), namely, Engr. Ipolito da Costa, Head of the National Director of Extension and Agricultural Training; Mr. Americo Alves da Brito of the National Director of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Plant ProtectionโDepartment of Plant Protection; Mr. Marcos Correia Vidal of the National Director of Research and StatisticsโBetano Research Centre Representative; Mr. Longuinos Joao of the Municipal Director of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry of Bonoboro; Ms. Jacquelina da Costa Ribeiro of the National Director of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Plant ProtectionโDepartment of Plant Protection along with FAO Timor-Leste National Consultant Mr. Julito Fatima dos Santos de Araujo.
BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panaganiban, Assistant Director Herminigilda Gabertan, and BPI-CPMD Chief Dr. Peter Magdaraog formally welcomed the delegates during the opening ceremony, followed by lectures on BCAs by BPI-CPMD technical staff and National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) experts.
Dr. Magdaraog discussed the mass production procedure and utilization of three (3) Trichogramma species, CPMD Assistant Division Chief Ms. Precerpina Luzaran on the status of biological control in the Philippines, Pest Forecasting Section Chief Ms. Merabil Corpuz on earwig and predatory pentatomid bug, Biocon and IPM Section Chief Ms. Russ-Uzi Mayenne Ebora on entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV), and Plant Health and Pest Status Section Chief Mr. John Paul Maminta on Telenomus sp. Moreover, R&D on BCAs against FAW and validation of regional IPM packages for sustainable FAW management were discussed by NCPC Director Dr. Barbara Caoili and University Researcher II, Mr. Randolph Canadano, respectively.
This event provides an opportunity for the participants to obtain firsthand experience on rearing and mass producing BCAs for FAW management, as well as to expand their understanding of BCAs, which will serve as a reference for the FAW technical working group in Timor-Leste for future implementation.
