Transforming mango production through IPM and smarter pesticide use in Southeast Asia and Australia

The project addresses all aspects of adoption, from identifying and validating effective integrated pest management solutions to supporting their widespread and sustained use by smallholder mango farmers in the Philippines and Indonesia. The project will:

• work with farmers, researchers and extension officers in both countries to test locally appropriate pest and disease management options through field trials and model farms 
• use surveys, interviews and participatory workshops to understand farmer decision-making and barriers to integrated pest management adoption 
• co-design and test gender-responsive behaviour change strategies, including training, communication and decision-support tools, to support sustained adoption 
• assess the economic, health and environmental costs and benefits of changing pest management practices, and identify incentives that could encourage uptake 
• work with government agencies, industry representatives and extension services to identify policy gaps and strengthen capacity to support adoption beyond project sites 
• conduct comparative behavioural research and facilitate knowledge exchange across the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia.

The project is expected to support safer, more sustainable and climate-resilient mango production in the Philippines and Indonesia. Sustained adoption of integrated pest management will help farming communities reduce pesticide overuse while maintaining effective pest and disease control. Longer-term benefits are expected to include:

• widespread adoption of integrated pest management and climate-resilient practices among mango farming communities, reducing reliance on pesticides and protecting biodiversity
• improved incomes, food security and climate-resilient livelihoods through lower production costs, better fruit quality and access to higher-value domestic and export markets
• enhanced skills and decision-making capacity among farmers and rural community members to implement and adapt integrated pest management and climate-resilient practices, supported by better-equipped extension personnel
• improved health and safety awareness and practices among farmers and consumers, with safer pesticide handling and reduced exposure risks for farm workers, families and surrounding communities
• stronger institutional capacity, regulatory frameworks, climate governance and policy advocacy mechanisms, supporting sustained adoption beyond project sites.

Benefits are expected to extend to women and disadvantaged farmers, supporting more equitable outcomes across rural communities.