Pesticide Utilization in Agricultural Production in Nueva Vizcaya

Andres, Ortiz, Jr., Ramos, Fanuncio, and Perante (NVSIT) evaluated the extent of pesticide contamination in commercially grown crops, soils, and irrigation water in 14 municipalities of Nueva Vizcaya.

Findings:

• Out of 65 farmers respondents, more than 90% used chemicals to protect their crops from pests and diseases, while less than 10% either used botanical pesticides namely siling labuyo, laweh, and garlic, or did not use any control method at all. Almost all of the farmer respondents (94.80%) were aware of the proper use of the chemicals and their negative impacts on human health.
• Insecticides comprised the major bulk of the pesticides being used by the farmers. Most of these insecticides belonged to the organophosphate and the pyrethroid groups of compounds. The others were carbamate and organochlorine compounds. B. thuringiensis was the only biological method used. There were 22 brands of insecticides being used in the area, 14 brands of fungicides, 3 herbicides, 2 molluscides, and 1 rodenticide.
• Among the agricultural produce, vegetable had the highest amount of pesticide residues. Sweet peas, cabbage, tomato, ampalaya, and eggplant were found to contain pesticide residues beyond the maximum residue limit set by FAO/WHO. The pesticides detected were Malathion (at 0.30 µg/g), Monocrotophos (0.30-1.50 µg/g), Deltamethrin (0.20 µg/g), and Methomyl (0.12-0.15 µg/g).
• Soils in seven municipalities of Nueva Vizcaya were found positive of pesticide residues. These were Aritao, Bagabag, Bayombong, Diadi, Dupax del Sur, Quezon, and Villaverde. Among the pesticides detected were Monocrotophos (0.04-0.60 µg/g), Malathion (0.12 µg/g), Mancozeb (0.04 µg/g), Azinophos ethyl (0.04 µg/g).
• Spring water and irrigation canals, about 50 m away from the vegetable farms were found negative of pesticide residues. Paddy water in rice fields was found to contain residues of Cypermethrin (until two days after spraying) and Monocrotophos (until four days after spraying). Pesticide residues decreased with time as they were diluted with continuous movement of water, taken up by organisms, adsorbed by substances in the water, or flashed away by rainwater.
• Based on these findings, the suggested courses of action included the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) in rice and vegetables; strict implementation of regulations on the manufacture, sale and use of chemical pesticides; establishment of quality control centers for agricultural produce; information campaign; region-wide program on monitoring of pesticide residues in crop and the environment; use of non-persistent pesticides and harvest at least seven days after spraying; and medical study on chemical pesticide contamination on humans.
  

Source: PCARRD, 1999. Highlights 1998, Los Banos, Laguna.

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