CAGAYAN | May 12, 2022 – The FPA Cagayan Valley discussed the Responsible Use of Agricultural Pesticides (RUAP) and Pesticides Resistance Management (PRM) to more than 100 agriculture students at Cagayan State University (CSU) Lallo Campus, Sta. Maria, Lallo, Cagayan, with the faculty and staff of the College of Agriculture on May 11, 2022.

The seminar was to emphasize the significance of the safe and judicious use of pesticides, interpret pesticide labels, identify signs and symptoms of pesticide poisoning, and develop a pesticide resistance management strategy. Balance Fertilization Strategy (BFS) was another topic of discussion.

“Pesticides are toxic, hazardous, and poisonous. It is harmful if it is misused and mishandled. But when used properly, it will give you a good outcome and high income”, Provincial Officer (PO) Henry Cayaban, Jr. said during his lecture on Safe Handling of Pesticides.

PO Cayaban, Jr. also discussed the causes of the national fertilizer price increase. He listed the reasons, including the COVID – 19 pandemic, the war between Ukraine and Russia, the rise in fuel prices, and the increase in transportation and logistics costs.

Meanwhile, PO Arwin Cardenas discussed the importance of determining pesticide poisoning and pesticide resistance management signs and symptoms. He elaborated on knowing the symptoms and the first aid to apply when a poisoning case occurs in the field.

During the discussion of pesticide resistance development, PO Cardenas emphasized the reasons for developing pesticide resistance, including failure to comply with the label, failure to incorporate IPM in farming, and repeatedly using single-use pesticides.

Dr. Florante Victor Balatico, CEO CSU Lallo Campus, and Dr. Maribel Fernandez, Dean College of Agriculture, thanked FPA for accommodating and sharing lessons with the agricultural students. The university hopes that the students will apply the learnings someday. ###