Code:
FTG/RF-0514-RG
Initiative:
Call for Proposals
FONTAGRO Amount:
USD 224.000
Counterpart Amount:
USD 508.000
Execution time
36 Months
Total Amount:
USD 732.000
Participating countries:
Colombia Colombia Ecuador Ecuador Venezuela Venezuela
Funding source:
FONTAGRO Amount 31% Other agencies 0% Counterpart Amount 69%

Executive Summary

The indiscriminate use of insecticides and fungicides in rice and beans in the Andean zone has become a serious problem that affects the environment, the health of producers and consumers. Its excessive use has caused resistance to fungicides and insecticides to the main pathogens and insects that affect these crops. Most of the pesticides used are category I (extremely dangerous) and are applied without the minimum safety precautions. 

This project proposed the quantification of the use of pesticides, the determination of current levels of resistance to the most important biotic factors that limit production, and the development of alternatives for the control of pests and diseases that could reduce the use of chemicals by at least 60 %. 

The MIPE (Integrated Pest and Disease Management) systems to be developed need to be acceptable to farmers so that the resulting strategy allows them to combine different means of fighting pests and diseases without sacrificing yields. Within this framework, the final objective of the project was to develop MIPE systems that reduce the burden of toxic elements in agro-ecosystems dedicated to the production of beans and rice in Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. 

As a corollary, the project carried out a strong outreach and training component for producers and technical personnel. 


The technological solution

The technological solution was a combination of elements, technologies and strategies leading to the MIPE (integrated pest and disease management) with the purpose of reducing the toxic load normally applied to both crops. It specifically included the quantification and classification of the pesticides used in both crops; the genetic resistance of rice and bean varieties; the evolution of the main pathogens and their isolates to determine virulence and their resistance to the main groups of available agrochemicals, such as organophosphates and carbamates. 

 


Results

In rice, methodologies were developed for the evaluation of the two most important pathogens of the crop: Pyricularia grisea and Rhizoctonia solani. Isolates were collected and characterized to determine virulence. In parallel, Integrated Management plans were developed based on resistant varieties and balanced nutrition. The training of producers, 120 of them in Huila, Colombia, considered the rational use of fungicides, it was shown that 1 or 2 applications of fungicides are sufficient instead of the normal 3 or 4. 

In the case of beans, it was determined that Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), the B biotype of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), Thrips palmi Karny and Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard), are the main bean pests in the Andean Zone. The levels of resistance to oganophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids and neonicotinoids were evaluated in adults and immature insects in 28 locations in the two countries. 

The management proposal was based on monitoring populations to determine the action threshold of the indicated pests, minimize the use of insecticides and create better environmental conditions to favor the development of natural enemies. 


Beneficiaries

Although there was no a systematic quantification of direct and indirect beneficiaries, the project, by demonstrating the socio-economic and environmental viability of reducing agrochemicals in a significant way, could have a very important future effect, obviously if these results are accompanied by adequate public policies. The direct beneficiaries were considerable, only one of the various training courses described indicated a total of 120 participants. 


Sustainable Development Goals

Industry, innovation and infrastructure Responsible consumption and production Life on land

Main donors

Participating Organizations

Executor
  • International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) - Colombia
Associated
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIAP) - Ecuador
  • Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas (INIA) - Venezuela

Graphics and data

Financing by country (in USD)
FONTAGRO Amount Other agencies Counterpart Amount

Geolocated Map

Researchers

Project leader Colombia

Gustavo Prado Patiño

Researcher

Reinaldo Cardona

Researcher

Juan Miguel Bueno

Researcher

Eduardo Peralta

Researcher

Nelson Mazon

Researcher

Angel Murillo Ibay

Sponsors
BID
IICA
With the support of
Fondo Coreano de Alianza para el Conocimiento en Tecnología e Innovación (KPK)