Field trials demonstrating the effective of biological inputs
Chemical pesticides do not necessarily increase productivity and boost profits. They leave residues on fresh produce and harm the health of farmers and consumers.
ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS) conducts field trials on the use of biological crop protection to replace the needs for chemical inputs. The trials were recently conducted in Kanchanaburi, Thailand between May and June this year. Farmer practice was compared with biological pest control inputs which target the flea beetles in cabbage.
Data are currently being analyzed and will be reported soon. The results of the field trails will help developing application guidance for environmentally friendly and safe management of pest and disease and promoting the use of biocontrol for crop protection.
“It is hard to believe to see such a good quality vegetable without using chemicals,” says U-Tai Songsaeng, 39, a trader who comes to buy the Chinese cabbage at the field trials.
“I grow vegetable myself and I used chemicals but my vegetables did not look as good as these ones,” he says.
Chinese cabbage is popular in Thailand but often infested with flea beetles. Reports say larvae and adult flea beetle infestation reduces yields about 10 percent. Low quality vegetable also cannot make it to the market.
ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS) has been conducting field trials on the use of biological crop protection in comparison with application of chemical pesticides since 2004. It started with the trials in Chiang Rai, Thailand in January to March 2014, also on the use of biological pesticides to control flea beetles in Chinese cabbage. The results showed that the use of biocontrol inputs were cheaper and more effective than the farmer’s practice.
More field trials are planned to be conducted in Lao PDR and Myanmar.
ASEAN SAS supports effective and environmentally friendly crop production solutions while promoting economic advantages in the value chain that guarantee food safety and security in the region.
During a series of Regional ASEAN Experts Meetings on Biological Control Agents organized throughout 2013, many ASEAN Member States mainly expressed their interest in conducting research and demonstration trials on the application of biocontrol for pest management.
Story and photos by Rojana Manowalailao, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN SAS)
ASEAN SAS conducts field trials on the use of biological crop protection to replace the needs for chemical inputs
Chinese cabbage is popular in Thailand but often infested with flea beetles
Vegetable grower shows a Chinese cabbage that uses biological crop protection.
ASEAN SAS’s field trials on the use of biological crop protection to control flea beetles in Chinese cabbage
ASEAN SAS Consultant and Department of Agriculture’s researcher visits ASEAN’s Sustainable Agrifood System’s field trial in Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Vegetable cutters collect vegetable at the field trials
Department of Agriculture’s officer collects data at ASEAN SAS’s field trials in Kanchaburi
Department of Agriculture’s officers collect data at ASEAN SAS’s field trials in Kanchaburi
Vegetable cutter collects vegetble at the field trials
Department of Agriculture’s officer compares the results of vegetable using biocontrol inputs and chemical products
Results of the field trails help developing application guidance for environmentally friendly and safe management of pest and disease.
Vegetable collectors say they do not usually eat vegetble they cut due to the overuse of chemcals.
Vegetable collector says it is hard to believe to see such a good quality vegetable without using chemicals.
Farmer practice was compared with biological pest control inputs which target the flea beetles in cabbage at ASEAN SAS’s field trials.
ASEAN SAS conducts field trials on the use of biological crop protection to replace the needs for chemical inputs.
ASEAN-SAS supports healthy and environmental friendly agriculture crop production while maintaining economic viability among players.
ASEAN SAS field trials aims to show the use of BCA benefits farmers and environment with its ‘good’ yield and ‘good’ environmental friendly quality.
Vegetable collectors packs vegetable into a bag of 5 Kgs.
Vegetable collectors are hired by traders to pick vegetble at the farm gate.
Traders offer to buy vegetable at 7 Baht per Kilo at the farm gate.
Vegetable is being transported to a central market in Bangkok.
Trader is happy with the quality of ASEAN SAS’s field trial vegetable with the use of biocontrol inputs.
Vegetable collector poses with trader at the ASEAN SAS field trial in Kanchanaburi, Thailand.
Trader says “I grow vegetable myself and I used chemicals but my vegetables did not look as good as these ones.”
Trader is having his pick up filled with vegetble from the field trials.
Trader receives a pack of vegetable from vegetable collector.
Trader drives around two hours from Kanchanaburi to a central market in Bangkok.
ASEAN SAS has been conducting field trials of the use of chemical free crop protection for its effectiveness compared with no pest control and chemical pesticide use.
Results of the ASEAN SAS field trials will help promoting the use of biocontrol for crop protection.
Officers and trianees of Department of Agriculture in Kanchaburi take a group photo after the field work is done.