Effective pest and disease management is essential for producing healthy crops with high yields in agriculture. The Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center I held a Training of Trainers on Pest and Disease Diagnosis and their Management on March 11-15 at ATI-RTC I, Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan. Thirty eight (38) Agricultural Extension Workers (AEWs) and Farmer Leaders from different municipalities of Region I attended the five-day training.
This training aimed to equip agricultural extension workers and farmer leaders with the necessary knowledge, attitude, and skills to make sound decisions when diagnosing pests and diseases in vegetable production. The activity focused on various aspects of pest and disease management, including identification, diagnosis, and control. Participants were trained to identify common pests and diseases in fruits and vegetables, as well as their causes, symptoms, and management options. They engaged in field activities to demonstrate the identification of different pests and diseases and were taught to use monitoring tools such as trap counts and crop scouting to assess the effectiveness of pest and disease management programs. Additionally, they gained experience in using rapid test kits for pesticide residue detection, portable devices designed to quickly and easily detect the presence of pesticide residues, ensuring the safety and quality of agricultural products. Moreover, the participants underwent a practical exam to assess the extent of their learning.
The training emphasized the importance of holistic and integrated approach to pest and disease management, which is essential for ensuring healthy crops and sustainable agriculture. The five-day training was accredited for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) with 10 points.
