SUSTAINABLE PEST MANAGEMENT: A SURVEY OF BIO-PESTICIDES IN CAMBODIA

Abstract

Chemical pesticides have played a pivotal role in safeguarding modern agriculture, shielding crops from potential losses and upholding product quality by mitigating pest and disease infestations (Damalas, 2009). Their affordability and efficacy have established them as a crucial input in agricultural practices (Haynes, 1988). This dependency on pesticides is particularly pronounced in the vegetable production sector of South East Asian countries (Schreinemachers et al., 2017). However, the pervasive use of these chemicals exacts a toll on both human health and the environment, contributing to various diseases, instances of poisoning, and pollution of air, water, and soil. Moreover, it impacts non-target organisms within the ecosystem (Damalas et al., 2001; Aktar et al., 2009). In Cambodia, the importation of pesticides has surged nearly tenfold in quantity over the past decade (FAO, 2022). Notably, there is also clandestine pesticide importation transpiring along the unregulated borders between Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam (MOE, 2004). This rapid escalation raises apprehensions regarding the management of associated environmental health risks, particularly in a developing nation like Cambodia, where a significant proportion of the populace is engaged in agriculture (WHO, 1990; ADB, 2021). Consequently, mounting public pressure is advocating for the substitution of chemical pesticides, wherever feasible, with safer alternatives for crop protection. Bio-pesticides emerge as a potential alternative, as they selectively target pests, leaving no residues on food or in the environment (Ahmed et al., 2021). In Cambodia, bio-pesticides have demonstrated effectiveness in curtailing damages inflicted by target pests in vegetable production, leading to substantial gains in yield (Ramasamy et al., 2020). Nonetheless, a minority of Cambodian vegetable farmers have adopted bio-pesticides in pest management. This reluctance predominantly stems from farmers' reservations regarding the efficacy and availability of bio-pesticides in Cambodia (Schreinemachers et al., 2017; Sokcheng and Molideth, 2021). Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the current status of bio-pesticide utilization among vegetable farmers in Cambodia is imperative to enhance bio-pesticide management practices and augment the displacement of chemical pesticides with bio-pesticides. This study endeavors to delineate the materials and formulation mixtures employed in bio-pesticide preparation, their application, and assess their effectiveness in Cambodian vegetable production.