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1 IPM: Advisory Group: Advancing IPM for Development MIP-COSUDE2 - NICARAGUA 2008-2011 Yelitza Colmenárez and Solveig Danielsen In Nicaragua and other Central American countries, the producers face many challenges in taking markets opportunities. The lack of a basic agricultural infrastructure, the lack off and difficulty in accessing to alternative inputs, little or not access to modern technologies, little or not access to training and/or technical assistance are among the factors that inhibit the majority of producers to participate in the markets. Plant protection is at the present time necessary and relevant in Nicaragua due to the increasing perception in the consumers on the importance of consuming safe, quality products. The demands of the national and international markets for safe farming products of high quality have forced the producers to be highly competitive (Julio Lopez, personal communication). Although there is a general awareness about the risk and impact that the irrational application of pesticides causes, the problem is still exits. This occurs especially in areas where the producers have a better access to conventional pesticides, more capital to invest and engage in large scale production of crops that presents phytosanitary problems, requiring the use of highly toxic conventional pesticides due to the lack of information about alternative control products and/or its suppliers. 1 MIP-COSUDE2 works within the framework of the Diagnostic and Plant Health Management Network or in short Plant Health Network (Red de Diagnóstico y Manejo Fitosanitario) of Nicaragua. The Network represents all the major players engaged in Integrated Pest Management (education, extension, research and plant health regulation). ‘The National Initiative 2007-2009 2 ’ which is being implemented by the Plant Health Network, constitutes a concerted, nation-wide effort to create a ‘plant health system’ based on local plant clinics (Puesto para Plantas in Spanish) as providers of primary plant healthcare, backed up by specialist services provided by the Plant Health Network (secondary and tertiary plant healthcare). 1 Evaluación de las políticas de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural Sostenible en zonas de laderas: El caso de América Central. http://www.fao.org/sard/common/ecg/2373/es/PASOLACSummarySPFINAL.pdf 2 Iniciativa Nacional 2007-2009: “Apoyo al Sistema Nacional de Fitoprotección en Nicaragua a través del Fortalecimiento de los Puestos para Plantas y la Consolidación de la Red de Diagnóstico y Manejo Fitosanitario”. A framework initiative to develop a ‘National Plant Healthcare System’ by strengthening local plant clinics and their integration with the Phytosanitary Network

Transcript of IPM: Advisory Group: Advancing IPM for Development … · 1 IPM: Advisory Group: Advancing IPM for...

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IPM: Advisory Group: Advancing IPM for Development

MIP-COSUDE2 - NICARAGUA

2008-2011

Yelitza Colmenárez and Solveig Danielsen

In Nicaragua and other Central American countries, the producers face many challenges

in taking markets opportunities. The lack of a basic agricultural infrastructure, the lack off

and difficulty in accessing to alternative inputs, little or not access to modern technologies,

little or not access to training and/or technical assistance are among the factors that inhibit

the majority of producers to participate in the markets.

Plant protection is at the present time necessary and relevant in Nicaragua due to the

increasing perception in the consumers on the importance of consuming safe, quality

products. The demands of the national and international markets for safe farming products

of high quality have forced the producers to be highly competitive (Julio Lopez, personal

communication).

Although there is a general awareness about the risk and impact that the irrational

application of pesticides causes, the problem is still exits. This occurs especially in areas

where the producers have a better access to conventional pesticides, more capital to

invest and engage in large scale production of crops that presents phytosanitary problems,

requiring the use of highly toxic conventional pesticides due to the lack of information

about alternative control products and/or its suppliers.1

MIP-COSUDE2 works within the framework of the Diagnostic and Plant Health

Management Network or in short Plant Health Network (Red de Diagnóstico y Manejo

Fitosanitario) of Nicaragua. The Network represents all the major players engaged in

Integrated Pest Management (education, extension, research and plant health regulation).

‘The National Initiative 2007-20092’ which is being implemented by the Plant Health

Network, constitutes a concerted, nation-wide effort to create a ‘plant health system’ based

on local plant clinics (Puesto para Plantas in Spanish) as providers of primary plant

healthcare, backed up by specialist services provided by the Plant Health Network

(secondary and tertiary plant healthcare).

1 Evaluación de las políticas de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural Sostenible en zonas de laderas: El caso de América Central. http://www.fao.org/sard/common/ecg/2373/es/PASOLACSummarySPFINAL.pdf 2 Iniciativa Nacional 2007-2009: “Apoyo al Sistema Nacional de Fitoprotección en Nicaragua a través del

Fortalecimiento de los Puestos para Plantas y la Consolidación de la Red de Diagnóstico y Manejo Fitosanitario”.

A framework initiative to develop a ‘National Plant Healthcare System’ by strengthening local plant clinics and their integration with

the Phytosanitary Network

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It was therefore an obvious choice to insert the MIP-COSUDE2 into the existing strategic

framework of the National Initiative, seeking maximum synergy and complementarity with

existing activities in the country. The project contributes to the implementation of a defined

strategy and adds new elements aiming to overcome some weaknesses of the system and

to increase its scope and impact.

The main partner of MIP-COSUDE2, PROMIPAC (Central America IPM Program) is an

SDC funded program of Zamorano, a leading agricultural university of Honduras. There is

a strong interest in developing joint activities to strengthen the plant health system of

Nicaragua, especially by improving the links between plant clinics and eco-friendly input

suppliers at community level. The Nicaraguan part of PROMIPAC and FUNICA provide

substantial co-financing to MIP-COSUDE2, as the project has a synergy and

complementariness with the Plant Health Network activities in the country. All other

partners contribute by covering own staff costs for the implementation of project activities.

Project plan

The purpose of the project is to improve the scope and quality of the plant health services

for farmers that entail to sustainable pest management and a reduction of the irrational use

of pesticides.

The planning and implementation group3 includes most members of the national

coordination committee of the Plant Health Network. The members assume the

responsibility to carry out defined actions with selected plant clinics. Four expected results

are defined for the project:

ER1. Strengthened five Plant Clinics in diagnosis and phytosanitary management

Responsible: Patricia Castillo-UNAN- León

ER2. IPM practices Disseminated through the Plant Clinics.

Responsible: Flavia Andino and Lilliam Lezama, UCATSE and Julio López, PROMIPAC

ER3. Strengthened the provision of alternative inputs at local level.

Responsible: Patricia Castillo, UNAN León, Julio López, PROMIPAC

ER4. Sustainability criteria established for Plant Clinics.

Responsible: Julio Centeno, FUNICA and Julio López, PROMIPAC

2 UNA (Universidad Nacional Agrícola), UNAN León (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de

Nicaragua), UCATSE (Universidad Católica Agropecuaria del Trópico Seco), INTA (Instituto Nicaragüense de Tecnología Agropecuaria), PROMIPAC (Programa de Manejo Integrado de Plagas en América Central), FUNICA (Fundación para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Agropecuario y Forestal de Nicaragua)

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Summary of activities Year 1

ER1. STRENGTHENED FIVE PLANT CLINICS IN DIAGNOSIS AND PLANT HEALTH MANAGEMENT

Improving monitoring and quality control of plant clinics

Monitoring of the plant clinics has

always been a serious weakness of the

plant health system, partly because of

lack of awareness of its fundamental

importance for the consolidation of the

system, partly because of limited

knowledge and experience of how to

establish and operate a simple and

practical system.

Two workshops on ‘Monitoring quality

and progress of plant clinics’ were

carried out by CABI in November 2008

and March 2009 (see mission report 2

and 3). A total of 28 plant doctors and

Network members attended. The purpose of the

workshops was to establish and practice a simple

monitoring system for the plant clinics. A good

monitoring system is essential to document clinic

progress, assess the service quality, identify

weaknesses and difficulties and define actions for

continuous improvement.

This is the first time that monitoring and quality control

has been taught as a formal 3-day workshop, or

course. The course has been developed by the GPC over the past year, building on

experiences and lessons from Nicaragua, Bangladesh and Vietnam (Annex 1). Until now,

the monitoring of plant clinics in Nicaragua has been done in an ad hoc manner without

clear criteria and guidelines and although there is an electronic register of clinic queries, it

is not being used to its full potential to document clinic

activities and to monitor the quality of the diagnoses and

recommendations.

Eight quality criteria for plant clinics were defined during the

workshop (Box 1) and five simple monitoring methods were

listed (Box 2). Practical exercises on clinic register

management (Excel) were included as well as an in situ

monitoring visit to a plant clinic. The resulting monitoring

Quality Control workshop participants. The workshop

provided concepts and tools to do an efficient evaluation of

the performance of the PpPs. (Photo: Cooperativa Santiago)

BOX 1. QUALITY CRITERIA FOR PLANT CLINICS

► Technical quality

► Timeliness and reliability

► Access to inputs

► Communication and attitude

► Feasibility

► Location, equipment, presentation

► Organisation

► Scale and scope

BOX 2. MONITORING METHODS FOR

PLANT CLINICS

► Monitoring visits

► Analyses of clinic registers

► Regular follow-up meetings

► Field visits

► Feedback from clients

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reports were subsequently scrutinised in plenum, revealing general weaknesses in

reporting and abilities to make critical analyses.

The course helped create awareness about the importance of carrying out the clinic

monitoring in a conscious and systematic way and ensuring that the information is used for

decision making on strategic and operational matters. A third monitoring workshop will be

implemented by the Plant Health Network in year 2 under the supervision of CABI. To

follow on from here, the Network will elaborate a monitoring plan defining frequency of the

application of each method,

responsible persons and how the

information will be used.

A total of 8 monitoring visits were

made over the year by the Plant

Health Network to clinics in the north

(Jalapa, San Juan, El Jícaro, Quilalí

and Murra) and western and south-

pacific region (El Sauce, Somotillo and

Ticuantepe) as well as 7 follow-up

visits to evaluate the organization and

operation of the clinics. However, the

new monitoring form and principles still

need to be applied in a more

systematic way.

Natural enemies identification workshop

CABI implemented a short workshop on natural enemies in November 2008 (See mission

report 2 and Annex 1), a theme of limited knowledge and experience in Nicaragua. Twenty

three plant doctors and Network members participated. The objectives of the workshop

were: 1) to show them how to identify the most common natural enemies, in their different

stages and 2) to help the extension officers to transfer this knowledge to the farmers in a

easy and visual way, specially the form of action of the natural enemies studied. Many

farmers do not know how to differentiate the pests from the natural enemies, and in many

cases they apply insecticides when they find the beneficial insects thinking that they could

be a potential threat. The identification of the natural enemies in their different stages and

separation from the pests led to avoid wrong application of pesticides.

A baseline questionnaire was carried out with workshop participants to evaluate the initial

knowledge about natural enemies (see mission report 2). A manual, which was elaborated

by CABI throughout 2008 (see mission report 2) and was previously validated by farmers,

was used at the workshop to help with the identification of natural enemies. This manual

was distributed to the plant doctors and extension officers who participated in the

Plant clinic monitoring. The workshop on ‘Monitoring quality

and progress of plant clinics’ includes a practical monitoring

exercise at a plant clinic in operation. . (Photo: Luis Medina)

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workshop and is therefore available for use within the plant clinics. The participants

mentioned that it was very useful for them to learn to classify natural enemies such as

predators or parasitoids and to see them in their different stages. One week after the

workshop, INTA Somotillo, put their new knowledge into practice. With the coordination of

Julio Gallo and the support of the Plant Health Network, especially Prof. Cony Narváez

from UNAN Leon, a workshop on identification and use of natural enemies was conducted

for 40 participants from the region, including farmers and members of their communities.

They used part of the material given to them during the workshop the previous week. In

addition to that, they made liberations of Trichogramma pretiosum and Chrysoperla

externa in the field. The producers showed great satisfaction by seeing the mode of action

of the natural enemies through the video and learning how to release them in the field.

They said that the farmers were skeptical to use natural enemies because they did not

think that a little wasp like Trichogramma can control the pest, but after the workshop they

were really excited and more open to use the biocontrol agents.

Four additional workshops have since been implemented using the tools provided at the

workshop. A total of 120 participants were involved in the activities, including farmers,

extension officers and students.

Identification of Natural Enemies workshop. The workshop provided tools for the identification of the

most common natural enemies in the region. After the workshop some of the participants repeated the

same activity with farmers. (Photos: Cony Narváez)

Positive aspects:

• The monitoring workshops were an important eye-opener for the participants who

learned how to be more critical, analytical and systematic when assessing the

performance of the plant clinics. The Network has committed itself to continue

developing the monitoring and quality control and improving the management and

use of the electronic clinic register (database).

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• The learning from the workshop on natural enemies has immediately been used to

implement new training activities for farmers, extension officers and students.

Difficulties:

• Less Network members than anticipated participated in the monitoring workshops

due to work load and general problems with inefficient work modes.

ER2. IPM PRACTICES DISSEMINATED THROUGH THE PLANT CLINICS

The implementation of public plant health campaign (jornadas de salud) (PPHC) is a new,

complementary function of plant clinics that helps to promote specific control options and

prevention practices for major plant health problems. A plant health campaign involves a

group of up to 10 persons (plant doctors and members of the Plant Health Network) who

travel to different farming communities and make two or three stops in order to transfer

knowledge on IPM practices for one particular pest known to be a problem in that area.

This massive dissemination activity enables many farmers to be reached in a short period

of time. The method is still under development and validation and different target groups

have been used for example, farmer associations, public areas and schools.

Three campaigns were implemented in 2008, two in El Jícaro on coffee nematodes (see

mission report 2) and one in Somotillo on tomato viruses and nutrient deficiencies (see

mission report 3). A simple baseline questionnaire was applied to as many people as

possible at the beginning of the campaign. This baseline data helps to 1) assess the

knowledge and current practices of farmers before the initiation of the campaigns; 2)

determine whether the extension message is designed correctly, and 3) gather information

about other problems concerning the farmers.

Baseline questionnaire. To evaluate the knowledge of

the farmers about the selected problem in their crops, a

baseline questionnaire is applied at the beginning of the

Public Plant Health Campaign. (Photo: Solveig Danielsen)

Public Plant Health Campaign. The farmers received an

explanation and recommendations for the specific problem.

(Photo: Solveig Danielsen).

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A total of approx. 80 persons participated in the two campaigns in El Jícaro and 61

baseline interviews were carried out. The interviews showed that many farmers do not

know the cause of the nematode problem and that they apply wrong control methods,

including pesticides. When the activity ended the farmers had a better knowledge of how

to prevent the problem and use the right control methods.

In Somotillo 90 farmers were present at the first campaign; the most of them were women

that belong to different farmers associations. The topics in this case were tomato viruses

and calcium deficiency. The control of whitefly was also included, because of its

importance as a vector of the viruses. A total of 66 baseline questionnaires were applied;

33 in each topic. In this case the baseline showed that many farmers knew the problem

but they did not know methods of prevention and they were applying wrong methods of

control. More details are presented in Mission Reports 2 and 3 (Annex 1).

Positive aspects:

• The method is still under development and validation; however it has been

received with a lot of enthusiasm by our national partners. The public plant health

campaigns fill a gap in the current extension and training activities offered by the

Plant Health Network and Plant Clinics. It is appealing and intuitive and many see it

as an attractive way of reaching many farmers in a short period of time with a

targeted message. The Network is looking for ways to support more campaigns

beyond the SDC project.

Difficulties:

• There is the risk that some people turn the Public Health Plant Campaign into a

seminar or a workshop forgetting that it is a mass extension method aiming at

reaching as many people as possible in a short period of time. It takes time for the

facilitators to become familiar with the new method and learn htrow to implement it

the right way.

• It requires an open attitude of the campaign implementers. They need to be

enthusiastic and open to talk with the farmers in a simple way. Some people have

personal problems to overcome this challenge.

ER3. STRENGTHENED THE PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVE INPUTS AT LOCAL LEVEL

One of the major limitations for the use of biopesticides and alternative methods of control

is the restricted accessibility of the products for the farmers. To address this issue CABI is

contributing to the initiative that PROMIPAC has been implementing since 2005 by

supporting the establishment of three Plant Pharmacies to improve the access of inputs in

restricted areas. A plant pharmacy is operated by farmers and stocks alternative pest

control products and other crop inputs so that farmers have easy access to these supplies

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in their communities. Farmers who will run the pharmacy are trained in business and

pesticides management before it is established. Supplies for the pharmacies are initially

donated by CABI and PROMIPAC and thereafter, farmers run the pharmacy as a

business, buying the stock as required. During 2008 two areas were selected to establish

two Plant Pharmacies based on an evaluation of their suitability in terms of proximity to a

plant clinic and previous experiences with establishing such pharmacies. The areas

selected were Somotillo and San Juan del Rio Coco. Material and personnel is ready to

start with the activation of the Plant Pharmacies after the preparation workshop, which will

be implemented by PROMIPAC.

Positive aspects:

• The implementation of this activity had been well received by the farmers as it

assists with the availability of alternative products in restricted areas.

• The farmers who will manage the pharmacies have been trained by PROMIPAC in

the manipulation, dosage recommendation and marketing of those products.

Difficulties:

• The farmers need to be business oriented to make the pharmacy sustainable. The

basic training includes a module on business management; however, for some of

the farmers it is a major challenge to start thinking as a business person.

COORDINATION AND DOCUMENTATION

The documentation and communication of results and experiences is a constant and high

priority activity, involving the project responsible and other members of the Phytosanitary

Network involved in the project. This is essential to maximize the outputs of the project and

to help change the habit of ‘non communication’, which is very common in Nicaragua.

Periodic meetings between CABI and the project group have been held to present and

discuss the progress of the activities and CABI has provided comprehensive mission

reports after each trip. A quarterly electronic bulletin is under development to publish news

about project activities and other relevant issues related to the Plant Clinics and the

Phytosanitary Network. The bulletin will be send around circulated within the country to the

different stakeholders and institutions in general. The national supervisors will be the

responsible for the elaboration of the electronic bulletin, backed up by the CABI team.

Three field visits and revision meetings have been done to contribute with the elaboration

of the Tomato IPM Manual, which was initiated in the first phase.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

CABI participation in the International Congress of Integrated Pest Management - Honduras

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Zamorano and PROMIPAC were among the organizers of this event. CABI was invited to

present two papers where the Plant Health Network and the plant doctors were present as

well. The two presentations were:

1. Study of the natural enemy complex of the Cotton pests in different localities in Barbados

2. Efficiency of control of Spinosad, Acetamiprid and Abamectin agains Scirtothrips dorsalis

Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Barbados

This was a great opportunity to interact with the plant doctors and discuss alternative

methods of control and their efficiency.

CABI participation in First International Congress on Water Resources, Biodiversity and

Climate Change Risk Management - Nicaragua

Nicaraguan Universities with the collaboration of PROMIPAC and FUNICA organized the

congress event where CABI was invited to present a paper about the effect of pesticides

application in the Caribbean. The presentation was attended by a group of extension

officers, national and international researches, students and members of the Plant Health

Network. The discussions led to reflect about the impact of the pesticides application and

the importance of the introduction and promotion of less aggressive products and new

methods of control.

General assessment of Year 1

Positive aspects:

• The Plant Health Network has shown big interest in the implementation of the new

activities of MIP-COSUDE 2. The project has provided new energy and enthusiasm

to the National Initiative, especially to the Plant Health Network and Plant Clinics in

the western and south-pacific regions, which had been neglected for a long time.

• There is a good and strong relationship between the CABI team and project

partners based on mutual trust, respect and commitment to a common goal.

Difficulties:

• The performance of one of the national supervisor was inadequate. This has

caused a lot of delay with the realization of some activities as well as delivery of the

financial report.

• The system for dissemination of information, reports, bulletin etc. as well as

communication in general needs serious improvements.

• The work dynamics and inefficient organization and management of many

institutions represent a major challenge to the implementation of some project

activities.

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• The fluctuating exchange rates of USD and GBP have created difficulties for the

project planning and management.

Planned activities for year 2

ER1. Strengthened five Plant Clinics in diagnosis and phytosanitary management

� Implementation of one monitoring quality control workshop

� 3 Training courses for extension officers and plant doctors in IPM practices and

alternative methods of control

� Elaboration of a guide for monitoring visits

� Elaboration of a list of well established plant clinics

� 11 monitoring visits to the different plant clinics

� Elaboration of the national list of the plant doctors that need to be trained

� Training new Plant doctors – application of the 3 modules

� Improvement of the Plant Clinic National database

ER2. IPM practices Disseminated through the Plant Clinics

� Implementation of 17 Public Plant Health Campaign

� Elaboration of new material for dissemination

ER3. Strengthened the provision of alternative inputs at local level

� Establishment of 3 new Plant Pharmacies

� Implementation of 3 workshops for preparation of the responsible of the new Plant

Pharmacies

ER4. Sustainability criteria established for Plant Clinics

� Implementation of 1 workshop with the cooperatives and farmer associations

� Implementation of 1 course for the conformation of the cooperatives technical units

� Implementation of 1 workshop of politic / sustainability

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AAnnnneexx 11.. Publications and materials produced Year 1

CCAABBII MMIISSSSIIOONN RREEPPOORRTTSS

‘Bringing the

technology to the rural

sector´

First mission report

April 2008

17 pages

‘Public plant health

campaigns – more

advice for more

people´

Second mission report

October 2008

26 pages

‘Focus activities –

making it possible´

Third mission report

January- February 2009

19 pages

MMAATTEERRIIAALLSS UUSSEEDD IINN HHEEAALLTTHH CCAAMMPPAAIIGGNNSS

‘Coffee nematodes’

The message is

validated by the

farmers. The language

is really simple and easy

to understand it.

‘Get to know the

coffee nematodes’

A fact sheet showing

nematodes symptoms in

coffee with a simple and

clear explanation of the

problem and prevention

practices. This is used

as during the application

of the baseline

questionnaires to help

the identification of the

problem.

‘Tomato viruses’

Using a simple a

practical language this

fact sheet described the

problem of tomato

viruses in a practical

and understandable

way.

‘White fly’

Fact sheet with a

validated message

showing the symptoms

of white fly and

methods of prevention

and control.

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‘Get to know the

tomato viruses’

A simple way to show

the symptoms of the

tomato viruses to the

farmers.

‘Calcium deficiency in

tomato’

A fast sheet with a

practical and simple

message validated by

the farmers

‘Get to know the

calcium deficiency in

tomato’

A photo sheet showing

the symptoms of

calcium deficiency in a

simple and visual way.

EELLEECCTTRROONNIICC BBUULLLLEETTIINN

Quaterly Electronic

bulletin.

For dissemination of the

activities implemented

in the Project and the

Plant Health Network

CCOOUURRSSEE MMAATTEERRIIAALL AANNDD PPRREESSEENNTTAATTIIOONNSS

3-day course:

‘Monitoring quality

and progress of plant

clinics’

CD including power

point presentations,

exercises, photos and

videos.

1-day workshop:

‘Identification of

natural enemies’

CD including power

point presentations,

exercises and a manual.

‘Effects of

agrochemicals in the

agricultural sector of

the Caribbean’

Presentation by Yelitza

Colmenárez at Intl

Congress on Water

Resources, Biodiversity

and Climate Change Risk

Management, Estelí,

Nicaragua. July 2008.

‘Study of the natural

enemy complex of

cotton pests in

Barbados’

Presentation by Yelitza

Colmenárez at

International IPM

Congress, Tegucigalpa,

Honduras. Oct 2009.

‘Control efficiency of

Spinodad, Acetamiprid

and Abamectin

against Scirtothrips

dorsalis in Barbados’

Presentation by Yelitza

Colmenárez at

International IPM

Congress, Tegucigalpa,

Honduras. Oct 2009.

NICARAGUA – 1 YEAR PROGRESS REPORT

CABI ► SDC project Phase 2

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AAnnnneexx 11.. Additional pictures

PUBLIC PLANT HEALTH CAMPAIGNS

Public Plant Health Campaign. Prevention and good agricultural practices are

the main focus of the activity. A flyer with a simple message, easy to understand

is provided to the public. . (Photo: Yelitza Colmenárez)

Visit to primary schools. During the first Public Plant Health Campaign,

primary schools were selected to disseminate information through the kids.

(Photo: Luis Medina)

NICARAGUA – 1 YEAR PROGRESS REPORT

CABI ► SDC project Phase 2

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Getting familiar. The farmers are provided with flyers with the description of

the problems and the prevention methods during the Public Plant Health

Campaign. (Photo: Yelitza Colmenárez)

Farmers associations. The farmers associations have been used to the

dissemination of the good agricultural practices and methods of control during

the Public Plant Health Campaign. Somotillo. (Photo: Yelitza Colmenárez)

NICARAGUA – 1 YEAR PROGRESS REPORT

CABI ► SDC project Phase 2

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Visual material. Good pictures of the problem and a simple message help the

farmers get the information in a better way. (Photo: Carlos Matute)

A baseline questionnaire is applied to all the participants of the Public Plant

Health Campaign. (Photo: Yelitza Colmenárez)

NICARAGUA – 1 YEAR PROGRESS REPORT

CABI ► SDC project Phase 2

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Working in the communities. The communities involved with the selected crop

are visited and the information is disseminated. (Photo: Yelitza Colmenárez)

NATURAL ENEMIES, ALTERNATIVE INPUTS

Biopesticides production. FUNICA has a programme called Technology

Market Development which supports small biopesticide businesses. (Photo:

Solveig Danielsen)

NICARAGUA – 1 YEAR PROGRESS REPORT

CABI ► SDC project Phase 2

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Biopesticides production. UNAN-Leon produces biopesticides and provides support to farmer associations

that wish to initiate a unit for local production of Beauveria bassiana and Trichoderma spp (left) and NPV

(centre). UNAN- Leon also mass produces the predator Chrysoperla externa (right) and the tiny parasitoid

Thrichogramma pretiosum . (Photo: Yelitza Colmenárez)

Field work. Looking for natural enemies of tomato pests. Yelitza

Colmenarez (CABI) and students of UNAN-Leon. (Photo: Luis Medina)

VARIOUS FIELD VISITS

Interaction with large farmers. Peanut, soybean and sugarcane are

some of the high value crops in the Occidental area. These crops

consume high levels of pesticide. (Photo: Luis Medina)

NICARAGUA – 1 YEAR PROGRESS REPORT

CABI ► SDC project Phase 2

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Farmer Field School. Visit to one of the Farmer Field School in

Cusmapa supported by PROMIPAC. (Photo: Solveig Danielsen)

Farmer Field School. Visit to one of the Farmer Field School in

Cusmapa supported by PROMIPAC. (Photo: Solveig Danielsen)