Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #27

Source: flyermaker

** Pest Management
What is pest management?

Pest management is a process which involves controlling and regulating pests that can harm crops, livestock, or human health. Pest management is not done only while on the farm, but after harvesting as some could be infested during storage. When effective, pest management help in minimizing damage while also considering other societal factors.

** Types of Pests

1. Insects: Aphids, whiteflies, cockroaches, weevils, bugs, mites, moths termites, beetles, praying mantis
2. Rodents: Rats, mice, squirrel, moles, beavers, hamsters, grasscutters, porcupines.
3. Birds: crows, sparrow, partridges, koels, pigeons starlings and lots more
4. Microorganisms: nermatode, bacteria, fungi, virus etc .

** Carrying Out Pest Management

1. Prevention: It is adviseable to try as much as possible to prevent the infestation of the crops by the pest at first and this could be made possible by the use of resistant crop varieties, maintaining cleanliness, and eliminating pests sources
2. Identification: Upon finally noticing their infestation, we should try to determine the pest type and extent of infestation.
3. Cultural Control: Modify practices like pruning, irrigation, and fertilization
4. Biological Control: Introduce natural predators, enemies or parasites to get rid of them
5. Chemical Control: This is the use targeted pesticides, insecticides, rodenticides or avicides.

** Personal Experience
I once had a little issue my beans. No, they were not on the farm. They were already bought and kept in my kitchen, but after some days, started seeing some flying insects in it. Bean weevils were beginning to infest the food.
I tried tightening the sack with the intention of blocking their mode of entrance but it didn't work and they even got more.
I kinda realize they were not coming to the beans, but they were coming from it!😅
Guess that is its own morphology.
Finally I told people around me about it and I was advised you to sundry it well first, before putting it in an airtight container which would be well sealed. In the container I also had to spread a few dried peppers (cayenne or chilli).
This is the use of the weavils biological enemies and I think there was a drastic reduction of the pest.
It is one of the cheapest method and I can't even think of spraying insecticides all over my beans.

Inviting:
@praizclassic
@osilevi
@robiul007

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