Pest surveillance officers undergo DA’s retooling workshop

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – In a bid to strengthen pest monitoring and management across Northern Mindanao, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) conducted a Retooling Workshop for Pest Surveillance Officers (PSOs) from October 13 to16, this city.

In her welcome remarks, Supervising Agriculturist Janniver C. Chua, DVM of DA-10’s Regulatory Division, emphasized that the four-day capacity building aimed to equip PSOs across Northern Mindanao with updated knowledge on pest and disease surveillance.

Held in two batches, the activity gathered about 90 agricultural extension workers from Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, and Camiguin (October 13-14), and from Lanao del Norte and Misamis Occidental (October 15-16).

Highlighting the region’s current pest and disease landscape, Agriculturist II Caren A. Libre reported on ongoing challenges affecting key crops such as rice, corn, vegetables, and fruits. Pests like rice black bug, fall armyworm, aphids, and fruit flies as well as diseases such as bacterial leaf blight, maize stripe virus, and bacterial wilt continue to threaten crop production in the region.

Libre noted that these pests and diseases are mainly caused by climate change, monocropping, improper pest management practices, and movement of planting materials, wherein severe cases lead to yield losses of up to 80 percent, reduced product quality, and increased production costs.

By capacitating local PSOs, DA-10 underscores the importance of continuous education in safeguarding the region’s agricultural productivity from pests and disease risks. # (AMBM, Photos Supplied)