Litsinger JA, Goodell GE, Kenmore PE, dela Cruz CG, Bandong JP, Lumaban MD, Rivera M. 1981. Rice insect pest management technology transfer to small-scale farmers: a case study involving pest surveillance by Filipino farmers. FAO Rice Pest Surveillance Workshop, 7-11 September 1981, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 67 p. C55

[top of page A. Technician-instructors lack the skills to involve farmers in the learning process]

Table 3. Results of the pest control practices of farmers sampled from three villagesin Nueva Ecija, 1977 wet and dry seasons.

Method Ibabaw Bana Pamacpacan Rajal Sur MeanInsecticides 100 100 100 100Host plant resistance 100 100 100 100Synchronous planting 93 80 53 76Water control b/ 33 93 73 68Role of natural enemies 80 67 80 76Removing infested plants c/ 93 13 7 38Unconventional insecticides d/ 13 53 47 38Weed management e/ 0 20 93 34Use of plant parts (botanical) f/ 43 43 27 36Superstitious planting dates g/ 33 33 20 29Invoke spirits 7 33 33 18Prayers 13 7 13 10Trapping insects 7 13 7 9Seedling age h/ 13 7 0 7Fertilizer i/ 0 7 7 5Planting date j/ 13 0 0 4Plant spacing j/ 0 7 0 2Cutting rice seedlings k/ 0 7 0 2Trial plantings l/ 0 7 0 2Planting crops on bunds 0 0 0 0Crop rotation 0 0 0 0Hand removal 0 0 0 0Trap crop 0 0 0 0Place food in field 0 0 0 0a/ 15 farmers interviewed per village, b/ mole crickets, stem borers, c/ prevents spread of pests,d/ soap, kerosene, e/ to remove shelter, alternate host, f/ Gliricidia sepium for caseworm,g/ Sundays, Friday 13th , h/ 1 farmer said younger, another said older seedlings more tolerant,i/ 1 farmer said less fertilizer reduces pests, another said the opposite,j/ general pest control, k/ increases insecticide coverage, l/ acts like a trap crop

Farmers practicing (%)

Table 6 (below is hard to read). Record of weekly follow-up contacts with the farmer leaders by the entomologist cum extension technician in two villages in which the farmers had received training. The first two columns on the left are ‘farmers’ assessments’ and the second two columns on the right are the ‘technicians’ assessments’ of weekly crop surveillance and resulting decisions made. Column headings are ‘Pest Problems’ and ‘Decisions’. Each week (from weeks 3-17 after transplanting) farmers went to the field and observed the field in terms of problems from pests and other causes and then discussed them and came up with a decision. The data shows that farmers learned quickly based on guidance from the technicians from common pests and other problems such as zinc deficiency. New problems will need to be discussed with the extension officer to verify the farmers’ accuracy of the problem.