Refresher Course participants with resource persons and the NCPC training team (Photo by RLMiras)
Six personnel from the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) participated in the National Crop Protection Center’s second offering of the Refresher Course on Identification and Management of Pests and Diseases in Rice, Corn, Vegetables, and Plantation Crops in 2023. The course was held virtually from October 16 to 20, 2023. The Professional Regulation Commission granted the Refresher Course with 29 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.
The Refresher Course is a regular course that was initially offered by NCPC to private industry but later expanded to other stakeholders. The training covered twenty-six topics related to insects, weeds, crop diseases, pesticide management, plant health, and insect pests’ monitoring and surveillance.
Entomologists and university researchers from NCPC, including Sci. Marcela M. Navasero, Maureen Ceres dL. De Roxas, Randolph N. Candano, Gideon Aries S. Burgonio, and Marie Joy B. Beltran, together with NCPC retired researcher Dr. Pablito G. Gonzales and Assistant Professor Jena Joy G. Apolinario from the Institute of Weed Science, Entomology, and Plant Pathology discussed insect pests.
NCPC plant pathologists and university researchers Dr. Marita S. Pinili, Mary Joy M. Lapitan, April N. Alviar, Carlos L. Padilla, Sarah Jane B. Manaday, and Sci. Melissa P. Montecalvo, as well as retired professor Dr. Rizaldo G. Bayot, explained the diseases of crops.
NCPC weed scientists and university researchers Arlan L. Adorada and Romalene L. Miras tackled herbicide resistance and integrated weed management. Miras also talked about plant health. Meanwhile, John Julius P. Manuben, Karen P. Ardez, and Jasper A. Sarmiento, university researchers from NCPC, led the discussion on pesticide management. (First published in the Aggie Green & Gold newsletter, October 2023 issue)
