PARTNERS of the Americas Farmer to Farmer (FTFP) programme on Monday will be staging a training workshop on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as part of an ongoing programme of providing  technical assistance which can improve the economic opportunities of  producers, agribusinesses and farmers in Guyana. The one-day programme to be held at the St. Stanislaus College Farm targets the operators of shade houses and will be done by a US volunteer expert, Ms. Elizabeth Church.
Country Coordinator of the FTFP, Mr. Kelvin Craig, said Friday that it is evident to even the uninitiated that pest and disease control in agricultural production cannot be done using one method.
“As such, an integrated approach that takes into consideration the use of natural pesticides, barriers, predators, etc. can help significantly in improving the health and well-being of the farmer, as well as the environment.”
IPM, he added, is a perfect fit for organic farming and food produced under the IPM system is healthier for all to eat.  
Church is an IPM Manager/Pest Control Advisor/Harvest Projection Specialist, and the training she will offer will teach shade house operators to improve plant quality, as well as raise their awareness of the use of alternative, environmentally-friendly ways of controlling pests and diseases affecting their crops.