Integrated Pest Management

Insect pests continue to be the major problem in the highlands. Intensive use of pesticides leads to total crop loss. Complete dependency on chemical control for the past three decades has led to unsatisfactory pest management along with environmental degradation. We therefore adopted Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a coordinated use of pest and environmental information to design and implement pest control measures that are economically, environmentally and socially sound. The approach promotes prevention over remediation and advocates integration of at least two or more strategies to achieve long-term solutions. We are using methods such as crop or site scoring, pest trapping, pest tolerance crop varieties, weather monitoring, cultural controls, biological controls and precise timing and application of any needed pesticide treatments. With this approach, pesticides are used only when needed and when other control methods will not prevent economically important pest injuries. The outcome of such a sound IPM program is usually increased profits due to savings from reduced pesticide application and increased protection of the environment. The Main Highlands Programme, together with Australian Universities, NGOs and farmers, are conducting on-farm research to identify environmentally sound and economically viable plant protection technologies which reduce yield losses and improve the income to the farmers.

Current Activities

Impact and management of Oribius Weevils in Papua New Guinea

Oribius weevils are widespread, common and are pests of nearly all horticultural crops. They feed externally on foliage, fruits and shoots of many crops causing extensive damage. A project has therefore been initiated to:

  1. Assess the impact of Oribius weevil on citrus, avocado, capsicum, head cabbage, strawberry and coffee;
  2. Determine lethal concentrations (LC) for available insecticides against Oribius and field-test the effective insecticides;
  3. Understand temporal and spatial distribution of adult and larval Oribius weevil cropping systems; and
  4. Initiate a systematic revision of the genus Oribius.

Currently the following experiments are being carried out:

  1. Field validation of insecticides


For further information, Contact

Dr. A. Ramakrishna
NARI Main Highlands Programme
P.O Box 210, SIL, UKARUMPA
Eastern Highlands Province
Papua New Guinea

Phone: (675) 737 3500
Fax: (675) 737 3516
Email: a.ramakrishna@nari.org.pg