Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) | Source | Report |
This FAO training guide provides a structured framework for facilitators, lead farmers, and extension agents who work directly with farming communities to understand and implement integrated pest management (IPM). Developed under the EU-funded Capacity Building Related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements in African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries Phase III (ACP MEAs 3) program, the guide aims to reduce dependence on synthetic pesticides and support sustainable, biodiversity-friendly farming systems.
The guide is organized around eight IPM principles: 1) prevention and suppression; 2) monitoring; 3) decision-making based on economic and environmental thresholds; 4) prioritization of biological and non-chemical control methods; 5) targeted pesticide selection; 6) reduced pesticide use; 7) anti-resistance strategies; and 8) evaluation. Specific approaches covered include agroforestry (e.g., nitrogen-fixing hedges, neem-based natural pesticides), intercropping with pest-repellent plants, push-pull technology, crop rotation, cover crops, biological control through natural enemies, and physical or mechanical methods such as trapping and post-harvest sanitation. Chemical control is framed as a last resort, to be applied only when other methods have proven insufficient.
