Based on CWS Asia Pacific current monitoring trip to several townships within the Irrawaddy Division in Myanmar (Burma), a very serious outbreak of the brown plant hopper (Nilaparvata lugens or BPH) has occurred in the dry season rice crop in Bogale township in Irrawaddy Division. These tiny insects suck plant sap from the bases of leaves causing them to dry out. A quick solution to this problem is spraying insecticides. However, a deeper look at the problem has shown the importance of building the capacity among farmers due to their poor understanding of proper use of pesticides.

Although BPHs are often present in rice crops, they seldom cause economic damage. BPH is not normally a serious pest and the primary cause of a damaging outbreak is the misuse of pesticides. The outbreaks were almost always associated with heavy use of insecticides during the early stages of crop development; farmers may have made unnecessary sprays earlier in the season for leaf-feeding pests.

The brown plant hopper infestation is considered as “second Nargis” disaster by most farmers. As most affected farmers were forced to harvest early, the infestation has seized 30-50% of their dry season harvest. Their losses were compounded by looming debts and low market price for rice.
CWS Asia Pacific is currently developing an initiative to deal with misuse of pesticides among farmers, which will involve capacity building activities and replicating practices in producing good yields in Nargis-affected areas.