MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)--Aimed at helping students broaden their understanding of crop protection, the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 showcased the different biological control agents (BCAs) to students in the said center during their educational tour.

DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene Collado said that RCPC is responsible for crop protection in the region to ensure the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) among farmers' practices using environment-friendly BCAs.

Meanwhile, RCPC Chief Lucille T. Minguez emphasized that its big challenge is how to maintain the population of pests and the spread of diseases to crops to a manageable level, as they are mandated to undertake plant pest surveillance, plant pest diagnostic and management, and mass production of BCAs, among others. 

She added that the center produces various BCA types to meet farmers' needs in controlling pests and plant diseases.

These BCAs are farmed out to farmers whose crops are infested with pests and diseases while also acting as prophylactics to reduce infestations in the region.

Showcased are the production and field application of the BCAs intended for specific crops such as Trichogramma evanescent for corn borer, Trichogramma japonicum for rice stem borer, Trichogramma chilonis for fruit worms and fruit borers, and Trichoderma for diseases of banana, durian, and other vegetables;

Metarhizium anesoplea for rice black bugs; Beauveria bassiana for rice bugs, plant hoppers, and other larvae Green lacewing for scale insects; Earwigs for corn borer and fall armyworm, and Eocanthecona furcellata for different larvae affecting vegetables

Around 300 students from Mindanao State University-Marawi and Naawan campuses and the TESDA-accredited farm of Balmores Integrated Farm of Quezon, Bukidnon, visited the center on different schedules.

With the students' exposure, they can determine alternative methods of preventing the spread of pests and diseases in crops using friendly insects while increasing awareness and adoption of BCAs. (DA-10/PIA-10/Bukidnon)