Researchers from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Cambodian Department of Agronomy (DOA) collaborate through the Cambodia-IRRI-Australia Project (CIAP). The CIAP Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program ran from 1994 to 2000 in order to establish an IPM research program for DOA at the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI). The research program was developed through 4 main stages:
1. Determining which pests reduce the yield or grain quality of Cambodian rice.
We collected arthropods and weeds from the major rice ecosystems to develop a reference collection at CARDI. We also asked rice farmers what they considered the most important rice pests. Then, over the next 3 years, we conducted yield loss assessments of actual and simulated pest damage.
2. Defining the spatial and temporal distribution of key pests.
From field collections, farmer interviews, and reports of pest outbreaks we were able to build a database of the locations and times of pest infestations. We used this information to build distribution maps of key pests and to develop a pest outbreak calendar.
3. Describing how rice farmers manage pests.
Through farmer interviews, on-farm research, and observations we gathered information on how farmers manage rice pests.
4. Assisting farmers improve their pest management practices.
Together, farmers and scientists were able to design pest management tactics appropriate for the farmers’ economic constraints. For example, farmers’ attempts to manage rice bugs (Leptocorisa oratorius (Fabricius)) through insecticide applications or sweeping fields were shown to be ineffective. Effective rice bug management remains an elusive goal, but at least the farmers involved in the research no longer waste money and risk their health by applying insecticides. Flooding rice nurseries was found to protect seedlings during serious outbreaks of armyworms (Spodoptera exempta (Walker), Spodoptera litura (Fabricius), Spodoptera mauritia (Boisduval)).
Species 1: Hemiptera Alydidae Leptocorisa oratorius (rice bug)
Species 2: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Spodoptera mauritia (rice swarming caterpillar)
Species 3: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Spodoptera litura (common cutworm)
Keywords: IPM, farmers
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA