Cambodia Rice: World Rice News: Grow Vegetables around Rice Fields to Prevent Pest Outbreaks, PhilRice Says

Grow Vegetables around Rice Fields to Prevent Pest Outbreaks, PhilRice Says

The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) institute recommends planting vegetables around rice fields to reduce attack by pests and insects on rice plants and to promote organic farming.

A scientist from PhilRice says that vegetable plants provide food and shelter to several predators of rice infesting pests and insects. The scientist said that farmers should adopt “ecological engineering” strategy that helps reduce use of pesticides, and earn some extra money.

The scientist said, “Farmers apply pesticides about six times in a season. Pesticides must only be used as a corrective measure during pest outbreaks. To prevent outbreaks, we recommend the conservation of natural enemies to lessen the unnecessary and costly use of pesticides.”

The scientist said that okra (lady's fingers), kalabasa (melon), talong (egg plant) are considered good vegetables for planting, while spiders, coccinelid beetles, long-legged flies and yellowish-brown ants are beneficial insects in rice farming.

Source: Oryza/5June2012

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