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The Arabian Peninsula Regional Program (APRP) in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in UAE implemented a two days workshop on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) on 31 August 2003. A group of scientists from Vermont University, USA and ICARDA delivered presentations on scientific topics related to IPM.
1.
Prof. Bruce
Parker, Professors of entomology, University of Vermont, USA
2.
Prof.
Margaret Skinner, Professors of entomology, University of Vermont, USA.
3.
Dr. Mustapha
El Bouhssini, Entomologist, ICARDA
4.
Eng. Ahmed
Shahbandar, Farm Management Specialist, ICARDA
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The workshop was opened by H.E. Abdullah Abdul Aziz, Assistant Under Secretary for agricultural affaires, MAF, UAE. In his opening address, he emphasized on the importance of IPM for UAE as it has been identified a priority within the MAF strategy. Mr. Abdul Aziz thanked ICARDA for organizing this workshop and stressed on the strong collaboration between ICARDA through APRP and MAF. Dr. Ahmed T. Moustafa Regional Coordinator ICARDA-APRP, highlighted the ICARDA’s activities in the AP region with emphases on Integrated Production and Protection Management Program (IPPM) for Protected Agriculture. Dr. Faisal Ibrahim, IPM Specialist MAF, UAE, reviewed the current situation in UAE and IPM activities. The most important insect in UAE have been identified as Whitefly, Leafminer, Thrips, Mites, Aphids, Leaf-hooper, Stem-borer and Friutfly . Dr. Faisal Ibrahim mentioned that in UAE Agriculture pests responsible for 20% -60% yield loss in each year and to control them 20% - 35% of the total costs is needed. Development of insect-killing fungi for IPM is a long-term process requiring a number of well - defined steps. This process had been discussed by Prof. Bruce Parker, University of Vermont, USA, with emphasis placed on exploratory activities and initial testing to determine virulence of isolates discovered. Examples on usage of Insect-killing fungi against Thrips palmi, a major pest of vegetable crops and Eurygaster integriceps, a major damager of wheat and barley also had been put to the discussion. The goal of the University of Vermont’s regional IPM program is to decrease growers’ reliance on chemical pesticides by increasing their use of IPM, including biological control, mentioned Prof. Margaret Skinner. Through hands-on workshops tailored to grower’s needs and demonstration projects, the Vermont University is showing them how they can effectively implement IPM and include biological control in their total management approach. Positive changes in production practices are taking place, but it will take time and improvements in biological control technology for it to be widely adopted by growers. Cereal (Durum wheat, Bread wheat, Barley) and food legume (Chickpea, Lentil, Faba bean) production in North Africa, West and Central Asia is severely affected by damage caused by insect pests, said Dr. Mustapha El Bouhssini. The management strategy for control of these pests is including the IPM components such as host plant resistance, biological control and botanical pesticides. Regarding these issues different cases have been discussed and explained like different sources of resistance which are being used in the wheat breeding programs to development resistance varieties, Pesticides that are less harmful to natural enemies and development of an IPM package comprising the use of resistance cultivar, winter sowing and botanical pesticides (Neem and Melia) for the management of the chickpea leaf miner. These IPM options are extended to farmers through a participatory approach using Farmers Filed School (FFS) formed around each IPM pilot site established in the region. |
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Eng. Ahmed Shahbandar, Farm Management Specialist, ICARDA, provided some information about effective techniques for applying pesticides. He also addressed the importance of Macro and Micro nutrients for the production of healthy and strong plants that can resist the attack by pest and diseases. More than 40 researchers and scientists from the ministry, municipalities, universities and other agricultural institutes participated in the workshop The further collaboration between ICARDA, University of Vermont and MAF was discussed on the seconded day meeting. Mr. Abdullah Al Amiri, Director of plant protection, MAF, Dr.Ahmed Al Masoum ,United Arab Emirates University and Dr. Ismaeil Ali Al Hosani, Abu Dhabi Municipality, UAE participated in this meeting along with the visiting scientists from University of Vermont and ICARDA. Representative from different agricultural regions and scientists from MAF were also presented. |
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Participants
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