Clemson University/Universitas Sam Ratulangi
Collaborative Development of Integrated Pest Management for Food Production in Ecologically Sensitive Regions
State:
South Carolina
Country:
Indonesia
Award Date:
2002
Award Amount:
$100,000.00
Cost Share:
$111,196.00
Other Funds:
$18,000.00
Other Partners:
Food and Agriculture Organization Programme for Community IPM in Asia; Tri Esa Foundation; National IPM Training Program; Farmer Initiatives for Ecological Literacy and Democracy (FIELD)/Indonesia
The partners are working to provide research, education, and outreach to develop and conduct integrated pest management (IPM) for major vegetable crops grown in fragile ecosystems. Ultimately, these efforts will reduce chemical pollution, improve human health, increase biodiversity, and improve profitability for farm enterprises in Indonesia. The partnership’s outreach efforts are benefiting significantly from unanticipated synergies with a USAID/Jakarta-funded project, also based in North Sulawesi, involving village-level natural resource management, and the Jakarta-based NGO, FIELD/ Indonesia. Among their significant accomplishments to date, the partners have: 1) conducted field studies in the Lake Tondano area to evaluate biological control options for insect control on tomatoes, cabbages, and onions; 2) exchanged four junior faculty from Universitas Sam Ratulangi; and 3) with the assistance of FIELD/ Indonesia, begun IPM training, first for trainers of trainers and then for local cabbage, onion, and tomato growers. For these small farmers, putting IPM principles into practice will yield higher incomes and safer working conditions. The partners anticipate that widespread adoption of IPM will significantly improve community health and biodiversity in the region.