Phytoparasitica (1999) 27, p. 84 (Hameiri)

Y. Hameiri (1999)
Areawide intercrop Integrated Pest Management ('Hamabia') in the Gilboa, Bet She'an and Jordan Valley regions
Phytoparasitica 27 (1), 84-84
Workshop on Environment-Friendly Crop Protection of the Flower Industry to Suit Future Market Trends, October 19-22, 1998, Herzliyya, Israel
Abstract: The Intercrop Integrated Pest Management Project in the Gilboa and Bet She'an Valleys was established in 1994. The project encompasses an area of 15,000 ha consisting of field crops, vegetables, herbs and spices, greenhouses and fruit crops. Under the aegis of a USAID-funded international cooperation program, the concept was expanded to the Jordan Valley with the collaboration of professionals from Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority. The objectives of the project focus on: (i) promotion of rational use of pesticides; (ii) reducing the use of toxic pollutants and encouraging the use of environment-friendly substitutes; (iii) limiting the development of pest resistance toward pesticides; (iv) promoting pest control policies which are in line with public health needs; (v) lowering the costs of pest control; and (vi) encouraging cooperation among agriculturists of Israel, Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority in the Jordan Valley in order to control common pests effectively. The implementation of the program relies on the definition of a pesticide utilization ('windows') policy, which takes into account the pest control needs of all the crops in the area and preprograms the annual use of pesticides accordingly. Farm-level and regional pest scouts, as well as growers, are trained by extension and research personnel in the implementation of the prescheduled 'windows' policy. Farmers, pest scouts and extension workers meet weekly, reviewing current pest scouting findings in light of the annual policy and issuing weekly pest control recommendations. Major pests - Egyptian leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis), tobacco bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), spiny bollworm (Earias insulana), pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella), potato tuberworm (Phthorimaea operculella), and sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) - are monitored for resistance within the framework of the pest resistance monitoring laboratory established in the area to support the program. Pest movement in the area is monitored not only in the fields but also through trapping stations. Pesticide residues are monitored in the atmosphere. A cooperative system bringing together various regional authorities has been established in order to foster a relationship of trust and understanding among all agriculturists involved. In this framework several training sessions were held and bilateral visits took place. The Pest Resistance Monitoring Laboratory checks the resistance to pesticides that might affect the key pests throughout the annual cropping schedule. The findings of the laboratory follow up the relevance of the prescheduled pest control policy ('windows') and are the basis for any necessary adjustments. The tests compare field pest resistance to sensitive laboratory pest response in three basic ways: (i) direct 'topical application' of insecticides on the larval stage of the pest; (ii) indirect: checking the response of adult stage to insecticides in scintillation vials; and (iii) in the case of sucking pests or stomach poisons, plants are dipped in the insecticide and the insects on the dipped plants are monitored. The program has led to the rational use of pesticides in the area and a more professional attitude of the growers in Israel and along the Jordan Valley, reduced the amount of pesticides used, and developed a useful pest resistance monitoring tool - which indicates the effectiveness of pesticides and safeguards pesticides essential for the pest control needs of the area. Growers are charged for the services provided by the project, which is overseen professionally by a state level steering committee.

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Helicoverpa armigera		Israel
	Bemisia tabaci		Israel
	Phthorimaea operculella		Israel
	Spodoptera littoralis		Israel
	Pectinophora gossypiella		Israel
	Earias insulana		Israel