The Bureau of Plant Industry-Crop Pest Management Division (BPI-CPMD) joined the Information Caravan on Plant Nursery Accreditation and Plant Materials Certification for Plant Nursery Operators spearheadedby the National Seed Quality Certification Services (NSQCS) last April 30, 2024, at AFC Forest Tree Nursery, Bagakay, Barili, Cebu.

Published by Crop Pest Management Division  2024-04-30

The event aims to promote awareness among nursery operators about the importance of accreditation and plant materials certification. Moreover, it intends to educate them about the requirements and procedures for obtaining nursery accreditation and plant material certification. Also, it aims to enhance and capacitate the participants in proper nursery operations like; pest and diseases identification and management control strategies, recognizing the characteristics of good planting materials, nursery establishment, and other related nursery management practices. Plant nursery operator and associations from four provinces within Region VII, specifically the province of Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, attended this event.Furthermore, the divisions of the agency actively participated in the event, showcasing their respective mandates and duties, while also showcasing its available products and services.

The CPMD, as one of the resource speakers of the event, was assigned to discuss pest and diseases proper identification, characteristics, degree of damage, sign, and symptoms, and their management control.Integrated pest management strategies were also discussed with its four management strategy control options such as, the cultural control, mechanical and physical control, biological control and chemical were introduced to the participants.The CPMD also emphasized and promoted the importance of using of the Biological Control Agents (BCAs) as one of the main options for managing crop pests, which were available for distributions to farmers.Utilizing these natural enemies reduces the damage caused by a pest population, reduces the health hazard for spray operators/farmers, and prevents the chemical contamination of our food and the environment.Furthermore, to prevent the development of insecticide resistance against pest, this approach to pest management serves as an alternative means of reducing the reliance on pesticides.

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