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The Rapid Test Kit and Rapid Bioassay for Pesticide Residue technologies of the NCPC – Pesticide Management Division are designed to quickly and cost-effectively detect pesticide residues in selected vegetables and fruits. They are useful for monitoring organophosphate and carbamate residues for compliance in both conventional and organic vegetables. Currently, RTK for pesticide residue is limited to eggplant, bitter gourd, tomato, lettuce, pechay, okra, cabbage, beans, and sitao.

The RBPR is a technology adopted from Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute. It is an offshoot of the DOST-PCAARRD funded project in collaboration with Benguet State University and Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute. The LGU of Los Baños had already taken initial actions to adopt RBPR into its local market. On the other hand, RTK was already adopted by the LGU of Santiago City.

NCPC, particularly its Pesticide Management Division, is active in providing technical support and advice related to pesticide residue to various stakeholders. Mr. Eric Jhon D. Cruz, head of the Pesticide Management Division, presented on a webinar the activities of the NCPC, which are directly and indirectly related to ensuring food safety. The webinar was held last October 20 and was hosted by the Philippines Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture (PPSA) entitled: Advancing a Healthier and Food-wise Filipino Nation (Food Safety).

The Pesticide Management Division serves as a Pesticide Registration Technical Evaluator at the FPA to ensure that the pesticide residue, if present on the harvested crops, will not result in a significant health effect. They are also a member of the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards – Department of Agriculture (BAFS-DA) Technical Working Group for fruits and vegetables, working on the development of various Philippine National Standards, particularly MRLs for different commodities. They are also members of the National Codex Organization – Subcommittee on Pesticide Residues (NCO-SPCR), wherein they provide technical inputs on SCPR’s position papers on EU Policies in MRL of pesticides.

He also mentioned in his presentation the non-chemical pest management approach researches being conducted by NCPC. Some of these are studies on the use of border plants to repel insect pests and the use of entomopathogens against various pests in rice. NCPC also conducts studies on insecticide resistance management on major pests like onion armyworm and fall armyworm in corn. This study is crucial in preventing or delaying the development of the pest’s resistance to a specific mode of action of insecticide. This is done by rotating the use of insecticides with different modes of action.

The full presentation is accessible on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mm8-BkiYsw.

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