Every year, Thanh Hoa's crop area reaches about 391,000 hectares. Effective integrated pest management on crops is one of the effective solutions contributing to improving the quality of agricultural products, economic efficiency for production and environmental protection.

People in Nong Cong district apply knowledge of plant pest management to production.

Recently, farmers in Trung Chinh commune (Nong Cong) have actively implemented a pest management model on rice. This is a result of the replication of the integrated pest management model on high-quality rice jointly implemented by a number of specialized units in 2022. At the time of implementing the model, local people were familiar with traditional production methods and did not pay attention to using pesticides at the right time and in the right dosage, so the quality and yield of rice were not high. Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, a resident of Trung Chinh commune, said: "When participating in the model, people can attend 2 training courses according to the integrated pest management program on rice plants. Thanks to that, we visit the fields regularly, become "field experts", when detecting pests, promptly use effective control measures and proactively protect natural enemies... to create quality rice products, safe for users and minimize the impact of pesticides on the environment".

After applying the program, local farmers have limited harmful pests and the number of times pesticides are sprayed on the same area. Pests and diseases are less harmful, increasing productivity, product quality, reducing investment costs... The economic efficiency of the model compared to traditional production increased by 2.84 million VND/ha. From the initial advantages, up to now, people in Trung Chinh commune in particular and in Nong Cong district in general have expanded the model with a total area of ​​10 hectares of ST25 rice. At the same time, gradually applying it to vegetables, corn... and maintaining integrated pest management models up to the present time.

Implementing Plan No. 179/KH-UBND dated July 28, 2021 of the Provincial People's Committee on the Integrated Pest Management Program on a number of key crops with high economic value and export potential in Thanh Hoa province, period 2021-2025, the Provincial Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has deployed a project to promote the application of integrated pest management on rice, sugarcane, corn and vegetables. The goal is to reduce the use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers in agricultural production, improve economic efficiency, agricultural product quality, build and maintain the balance of the agricultural ecosystem. Every year, the Department has opened training courses on the integrated pest management program in production so that people can grasp the principles, methods and effectively apply the use of fertilizers, pesticides and collect pesticide packaging in the fields. Thanks to that, farmers are equipped with more knowledge, promptly detect and control pests when they first appear, contributing to improving productivity, quality, value and economic efficiency in production.

Mr. Pham Khac Thanh, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Service Center of Trieu Son district, said: “Every year, the center has coordinated with a number of related units to organize training and instruct farmers on the knowledge of using fertilizers and pesticides according to the “4 rights” principle. The work of investigating, estimating and forecasting the situation of pests and diseases on major crops has been effectively implemented. At the same time, the ability to identify and prevent pests and diseases on crops has been improved for people. Accordingly, in the district, pests and diseases have not broken out into epidemics, and major crops such as rice, vegetables, and ornamental plants have grown and developed well, bringing high economic efficiency."

According to a survey by the provincial Agricultural Extension Center, after a period of implementing the program to guide integrated pest management on crops, farmers in the province have grasped the components of harmful organisms on rice, fruit trees, vegetables and natural enemies in the fields. People can proactively identify harmful pests and propose scientific solutions, contributing to protecting the rural ecological environment.

To improve the effectiveness of integrated pest management on crops, every year, the agricultural sector has coordinated with specialized units to open training courses and field workshops on effectively applied models to serve as a basis for replication among the people. The whole province aims to have 100% of communes and wards producing key crops with high economic value and export potential trained in pest management by 2025; 80% of agricultural production households understand and apply the integrated pest management program on crops; the area of ​​crops applying integrated pest management is from 75% to 85%...

Article and photos: Le Thanh