TACLOBAN CITY — In a push toward safer and more sustainable farming, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA-8) has introduced biological control agents in Palompon, Leyte to help farmers manage crop pests while reducing dependence on chemical pesticides.
The initiative, carried out on April 14–15 through the agency’s Regional Crop Protection Center, involved the distribution of various biological control agents (BCAs) to the Municipal Agriculture Office for use in local farms and demonstration sites.
Among the agents deployed were earwigs and beneficial organisms such as Trichogramma chilonis, Trichogramma evanescens, and Metarhizium anisopliae, along with wood vinegar. These were introduced in demo areas in Sitio Kamalig, Barangay Taberna, and at the municipal nursery in Barangay Central II.
Agriculture officials said the BCAs are designed to combat major pests affecting corn and vegetable crops, including fall armyworm, corn borers, fruit borers, and earworms—pests that have long impacted farm productivity in the region.
During the rollout, DA-8 personnel conducted field demonstrations on the proper release of earwigs and Trichogramma species in corn fields. Local agricultural technicians were also trained on the correct application of these biological agents and oriented on services offered by the crop protection center.
To ensure sustainability, a hands-on training on the rearing and mass production of predatory earwigs was also held at the municipal nursery, enabling local technicians to continue producing the agents for future use.
The program forms part of the DA’s broader strategy to promote climate-resilient and environmentally friendly agricultural practices across Eastern Visayas, helping farmers maintain yields while protecting soil health and surrounding ecosystems.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
