KATRINA MICHELLE F.

NATIVIDAD
BSA4-CS (HORTICULTURE)

NARRATIVE REPORT

Insect pests place a heavy toll on crop production efforts. Tons of total production is lost
due pests. Pesticides, if used judiciously, offer protection to most crops against the ravages of
pests. To solve pest problems immediately, pesticides are used and appeared that it will continue,
notwithstanding the increased interest in Integrated Pest Management (Magallona, 1995).
Insect pests are a major threat to agriculture and the environment. They can cause
significant damage to crops, leading to lower yields and reduced quality. Insects such as aphids,
caterpillars, and beetles can also spread diseases among plants, further impacting crop health.
One of the biggest challenges with controlling insect pests is their ability to adapt quickly to
changes in the environment. This means that traditional methods of pest control such as
pesticides may become less effective over time. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a
sustainable approach that combines biological, cultural, and chemical control methods to manage
insect pests effectively while minimizing negative impacts on the environment (National
Institute of Health, 2021).
Insecticides are chemical compounds that are designed to kill or repel insects. They are
commonly used in agriculture, homes, and public spaces to control or eliminate pests such as
mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, and bedbugs. While insecticides can be effective in controlling
insect populations, they also pose a risk to human health and the environment. Some insecticides
contain toxic chemicals that can have harmful effects on humans and other animals if ingested or
absorbed through the skin. Additionally, the overuse of insecticides can lead to the development
of resistance among insects, making them harder to control in the future. To mitigate these risks,
it is important for individuals and communities to use insecticides responsibly. This includes
following label instructions carefully, storing and disposing of chemicals properly, and
considering alternative methods of pest control whenever possible. By taking these steps, we can
protect ourselves and our environment while still effectively managing insect populations when
necessary.
In this activity, the student conducted an interview regarding the insecticide management
of farmers in Mapangpang Science City of Muñoz Nueva Ecija.
Farmer 1, Mr . Rogelio Salgado, 63, of Purok 4, Mapangpang Science City, Muoz,
Nueva Ecija, and a farmer with 46 years of experience, plants rice in a 5-hectare farm.
Mapangpang is the location of his farm. Farmer 1 notices insect pests in his crops, which are
typically stem borer, green leaf hopper, and rice black bug. He also sprayed insecticide
immediately after the first fertilizer application without first monitoring the insect population. He
apply Magnum, a ₱500 emulsifiable concentrate. Then there's Chix, an emulsifiable concentrate
that costs ₱720 . He also spray Brodan that cost ₱600, emulsifiable concentrate. Farmer 1
follows the indicated recommended rate on the label of the insecticides he used. He usually
applies the insecticides by spraying them early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The
interval, or timing, of applications of insecticides depends on the insect population. The
percentage of the cost of the insecticides in the total production of their crop is 5%. Farmers
usually burn and bury the empty insecticide containers. The farmer follows the directions for the
use of the insecticides as indicated on the label. He uses protective equipment when applying
insecticides, and he is aware of the symbols indicated on the label of the insecticides. In addition,
he is not aware of the color band on the insecticide label, nor is he aware of the toxicity category
of the insecticides he is using. Moreover, he does not suffer any illness related to the use of
pesticide.

Famer 2, Mr. Angelino Flores from Purok 3, Mapangpang Science City of Muñoz Nueva
Ecija who has 20 years experience in onion farming in a 0.25 hectare. His farm is located at
Mangandingay Science City of Muñoz Nueva Ecija . Farmer 2 observe insect pests in his crops
which is harabas or army worm . According to him, it is really hard for him to destroy this pest .
Moreover, he monitor the insect pest population every morning before applying insecticide.
Farmer 2, spray chix , an emulsifiable concentrate which cost ₱700 . He also use exalt, a
suspension concentrate that cost ₱1900 . Farmer 2 follows the indicated recommended rate of
insecticide they use. He usually applies the insecticides by spraying late in the afternoon. He
applies insecticide depending on the insect population. The interval between applications of
insecticide depends on the insect population. The percentage of the cost of the insecticide in the
total production of their crop is 10%. Farmer 2 usually bury the used container. He follows the
directions for the use of the insecticide. He also uses protective equipment when applying
insecticide, and he is aware of the symbols. However, he is not aware of the meaning of the color
band in an insecticide. In addition, he is not aware of the toxicity category of the insecticides.
Farmer 2, do not suffer any illness related to the use of insecticide.

Farmer 3, Mr. Mark Anthony, is 33 years old and from Purok 4, Mapangpang Science
City, and Muoz Nueva Ecija. Farmer 3 is a high school graduate and has 20 years of experience
in farming. He has 0.5 hectares of land located in Barangay Mapangpang. The crop he usually
grows is rice with a variety of 221. Their number of crops per year is one because the rain is their
only water resource. Farmer 3 should observe insect pests in their field, such as the lady beetle,
stem borer, and white case worm. Every morning, he monitors the insect pest population in their
field. He sprayed Magnum, an emulsifiable concentrate that costs about ₱500. He also sprayed
bulldock, an emulsifiable concentrate that cost ₱900. Farmer 3 follows the recommended rate
indicated on the label of the insecticides. He sprays the insecticides two times per cropping
season, with a one-week interval. The percentage of the cost of the insecticide in the total
production of their crop is 10%. Farmer 3 buries the empty containers and follows strictly the
directions for the use of the insecticide as indicated on the label. Farmer 3 uses protective gear
when applying insecticide. He is also aware of the symbols indicated on the label of the
insecticide and the meaning of the color band. He also answered the right color band for the
safest color. In addition, farmer 3 is aware of the toxicity category of the insecticide he is using.
He sometimes suffers from breathing in the insecticide.

All in all, 2 out of 3 farmers observe pests in their fields and monitor them every
morning or late in the afternoon before applying any pest management intervention. All farmers
manage pests by applying insecticide. All of the farmers follow the recommended rate indicated
on the label of the insecticides. Three out of three farmers apply insecticides through spraying.
The farmers apply insecticides depending on the insect pest population. Most of the cost of the
insecticides in the total production of their crop is 10%. The farmers bury the empty containers.
Three out of three strictly follow the directions for the use of the insecticides as indicated on the
label. Three out of three farmers use protective gear or clothing when applying insecticides. All
of them are aware of the symbols indicated on the labels of the insecticides. One out of three
farmers is aware of the meaning of the color band of the insecticide and the toxicity category of
the insecticides they are using. One out of the three farmers is suffering from breathing problems
related to the use of the insecticides.
DOCUMENTATION