| Biological control for harmful insects to replace
pesticide is known to be a good strategy to produce pesticide
free high-quality agricultural products today. Mass rearing
of natural enemy of the harmful insects is a key for the
success of this program. The Station developed easy methods
for mass rearing of different natural enemy of harmful
insects. The technology of rearing predators has been
transferred to the contracted farmers for mass production
of the insect. The egg mass of predators produced by the
contracted farmers are sold to ordinary farmers for release
on their farms to control the harmful insects. This unique
system of natural enemy rearing and release established
by this station has been working very well hence worth
mentioning in more detail.
The natural enemies currently worked with are green
lacewing, predatory stinkbug, mantis, ladybird beetle,
predaceous mite and parasitoid of oriental fruit fly.
Of the predators, lacewing is disseminated through the
Producer Groups in 50 Farmer's Associations and is used
to control aphids, spider mites and white flies on organic
vegetable farms. Predatory stinkbug is used to control
noctuid moths, cabbage worm, and diamond back moth on
organic vegetables by more than 10 Farmers Associations.
Studies on the mass production of mantis, ladybird beetle
and predatory mites are undertaken. Mass production
technique for the parasitoids of oriental fruit fly
pupa and egg has been established and proceeds with
field release test.
Biological control not only reduces pest control
cost, produces residue-free fruit, increases bee pollination
chance, increases production and quality, but also prevents
polluting environment so that it provides a safety guarantee
for farmers and consumers. With the development of sustainable
agriculture, ecological conservation and the policy
of reserving the bio-diversity, biological control will
play a more important role.
In order to establish sustainable agriculture and
live in harmony with production, life and ecology, besides
the above natural enemies following work will be enforced:
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- Mass production of natural enemies: In addition
to cooperating with academic and research institutes
to work on mass production technique for field release
test, the Station will looking for new aboriginal
and foreign natural enemies for mass rearing observation.
- Search for alternative food: Since mass production
requires large amount of preys or hosts, in addition
to continuing to work with other research institutes,
the Station will also independently develop rearing
methods for new alternative food to decrease rearing
cost on natural enemy and increase extension feasibility.
- Extension of natural enemy: In addition to cooperating
with the Farmers Associations, the Station continues
to encourage the use of green lacewing and predatory
stinkbug on horticultural crops and organic farmlands
to expand extension achievement. Other natural enemies
like parasitoid; ladybird beetle, mantis, predaceous
mites are to be released to crops after establishing
propagation system.
- Establish a system for the extension and supply
of natural enemy and its food: In order to let farmers
feel a part of the program, the future natural enemy
rearing method will work toward to an easy way. Regarding
the food supply system, the research objective is
to reduce rearing cost and guarantee enough food supply
so that will facilitate the extension work.
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