Author(s): Denisse Kim Donato Arahan, Rollyn Joy Sebastian Bayudan, Rinah Mae Elaveña Dela Peña, Maria Camille de Lara Lopez, Felipe Balaria

Abstract: This study aimed to describe the strategies of farmers in dealing with the effects of the infestation of armyworms in their onions. It is visibly shown that when the time armyworm has started infesting the crop there's a drastic decreased in production and causing the declined of onion bags harvested. Farmers harvested only 15 bags of red onion bulbs, after planting a can of seeds that should have produced at least 50 "buriki" bags. The years 2014 and 2015 were not affected by armyworm however; there are typhoons that hit some areas in Nueva Ecija which also cause to decline the onion production. The farmers experienced a great amount of loss during armyworm infestation and cost them to lose trillions of pesos it also doubled the cost of the farmer’s inputs. According to the farmers interviewed, during the normal condition, they only spend money ranging from 80,000 to 100,000 worth of inputs per hectare. Spraying of pesticides during the armyworm infestation is the most commonly used method with 305 out of 310 respondents using this method. Field monitoring and some form of scouting were also used to check the types and densities of pests present. The use of pesticides is the major solution when it comes to armyworm infestation this is basically because most of the farmers use the type of pest management method that is easy to use such as pesticides. The importance of pest control management during the attack of armyworm is necessary. However, the use of pesticide and other chemical use needs to be very carefully considered since armyworm caterpillars hide deep in the crop foliage and it is difficult to control, also such pesticides can harm natural enemies and farmers’ health. This study hopes that the farmer may be able to reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases by using a more applicable Pest Management control method and thus raise production levels, lessen production cost and maximize profits.

Keywords: armyworm infestation, farmers, onion, pesticide, pest management control.

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.46.56