DAVAO CITY—With the damages that local mango farmers continue to face due to cecid fly infestation, insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategies are put in place to combat different pest-related issues.

The IRM, however, is a complex system of management technology for mango farmers. To assist them, a training of trainers (TOT) for IRM of Cecid Fly in Mango was conducted.

Focal persons of the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) from the Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) attended the activity. They are joined by regional coordinators from the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) and some private mango stakeholders.

Aside from understanding IRM, the participants were also equipped with skills and tools needed to transfer of the said technology to the farmers. Moreover, the HVCDP focal persons and FPA regional coordinators will craft training programs for IRM dissemination to mango growers in their respective regions.

“You all have the expertise in crop management and I am certain that through this TOT, we can further increase the production of mango and make it globally competitive,” ATI Director Alfredo Aton emphasized as he spoke to the participants.

In addition to lectures and hands-on activities, the participants also visited the Provincial Mango Research and Extension Center and Gabonada's Farm at San Isidro, Babak District, Samal.

Experts from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Celia Medina and Sherry Marasigan, served as resource persons during the training. Meanwhile, the demonstration and trial use of the IRM application was led by UPLB research associate Monina Gazelle Charina Carandang.

This activity was led by the ATI Partnerships and Accreditation Division last May 20-24 in this city.