Jorani and the green vegetable bugs

Abstract

Many Cambodian farmers grow soybean crops. Problems occur when insect pests infest these crops. Among the worst pests are green vegetable bugs, which suck the sap from soybean pods. Farmers often turn to pesticides, but they do not always use them safely because the labels are usually not written in the local language, Khmer. As a result, many farmers are unsure of how much chemical to use or how often they need to spray their crops. They also don't know what protective clothing to wear or what precautions to take to avoid contaminating themselves and the environment. The problem is made worse because few farmers regularly tend their crops to check if the insects they can see are actually causing damage. Instead, they spray all insects. This can cause more harm than good if beneficial insects that eat crop pests are also killed. This story, set in the village of Samlaut in north-western Cambodia, is about an alternative to excessive spraying of soybean and other crops. Called integrated pest management (IPM), it can reduce the need for pesticides to control insects in crops.