TAGO, Surigao del Sur – A total of thirty-eight (38) coconut farmers completed the Training on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Coconut held on August 13–15, 2025, at the VFS Agri-Tourism and Adventure Park in Jubang, Tago.
The activity was organized in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) under the Coconut Farmers Development Plan (CFIDP). It aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to apply sustainable pest management practices in coconut production. Specifically, it sought to enhance farmers’ understanding of the Philippine Coconut Industry Situationer and CFIDP, explain the principles of Integrated Pest Management, and highlight the importance of proper pest, disease, and weed management in coconut plantations.
It also enabled farmers to identify and classify various insect pests and diseases, learn different management strategies using biological agents, appreciate the role of insecticide resistance management, and formulate practical re-entry plans to ensure the adoption of effective and science-based pest control measures in their farms.
Participants received lectures and hands-on training from experts, covering topics on the coconut industry situationer and CFIDP overview, importance of IPM, control and management of major insect pests, diseases, and weeds, and insecticide resistance management.
The resource persons were Joanne Langres from Caraga State University (CSU), Roseller Salonga Jr. and Rhummel Jumawid from PCA-Surigao del Sur, Alvin Sinday of Amparitas Integrated Natures Farm located in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, and Ryan Ramos from Bureau of Plant Industry-Plant Quarantine Service.
For the field practicum, farmers established a log trap using green muscardine fungus and pheromone to control the rhinoceros beetle and conducted on-site observation of pests and diseases within the training venue.
Sarah Mae Montero, a young farmer from Tandag City, shared how valuable the training was for their community. “This training is very helpful and important to coconut farmers, especially the relevance of integrated pest management for coconut. It teaches the farmers to know different kinds of pests and diseases and their management, and to identify insect pests from natural enemies. As a young farmer, this training is a great opportunity for me to reach out to other farmers in the community. The learnings I gained in this training will surely be re-echoed to my co-coconut farmers,” Montero said.
