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Be Gone, Rice Black Bugs! TTDARES Holds “Organic Rice Black Bug and Major Rice Pest/Disease Prevention Technology Demonstration Event”

2024-06-06
Rice black bugs have been a major problem in Guanshan, Taitung, causing massive losses to farmers. To resolve the problem, the Taitung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station (TTDARES) of the Ministry of Agriculture began using the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (TDMA01). On June 6, 2024, in the fields of farmer Kuan Sheng-lin in Chishang, the Organic Rice Black Bug and Major Rice Pest/Disease Prevention Technology Demonstration Event was held. In March, the TTDARES detected significant damage from rice black bugs in ten hectares of Chishang’s organic rice fields, which if gone untreated could have resulted in a loss of about one-third of the crop. After treatment, including the use of Metarhizium anisopliae provided by the TTDARES, the number of bugs dramatically decreased. The government is actively promoting the reduced usage of agrochemicals and encouraging eco-friendly farming strategies so that the agriculture industry may be safe and sustainable. Now, the rice black bug problem in Chishang is under control. Farmers are encouraged to report any resurgence in infestation to cooperating rice mills, the Farmers’ Association, or the TTDARES as soon as it arises to ensure proper control measures are taken.

TTDARES Deputy Director Lu hosts the Organic Rice Black Bug and Major Rice Pest/Disease Prevention Technology Demonstration Event. Assistant researcher Wang Chi-wei discusses rice black bug prevention measures taken in farmer Kuan Sheng-lin’s field. Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station associate researcher Wu Yi-hui talks about using a species of Telenomus wasp, a natural enemy of the rice black bug. Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute assistant researcher Chen Yi-nian shares about major rice pest/disease prevention technology. Farmer Kuan Sheng-lin shares about the effects of the organic rice black bug control treatment in his field.

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