Overview
The purpose of the assessment reported here was to extend earlier analysis by investigating the longer-term impacts of ACIAR-funded projects on ‘Improvement of integrated pest management of brassica vegetable crops in China and Australia’ (CS2/1992/013 and CS2/1998/089).
As a result of its large population, China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of vegetables. The quality of Chinese vegetables affects the demand for them both in China and abroad. How pests are managed during vegetable production directly affects the quality, nutritional characteristics and safety of vegetables. At the same time, given the intensive production patterns, pest management can also have a significant negative impact on the environment. During these projects, technical interventions, training courses and research activities were carried out to promote the adoption of IPM strategies by growers. This report summarises the research procedures used, and the findings on integrated pest management (IPM) impacts and factors that foster or constrain IPM adoption and makes recommendations for improving the IPM adoption rate in different types of production areas.
The key issues covered in this assessment are: (1) impacts on vegetable growers in terms of changes in their awareness and use of IPM strategies and how these translate into an economic benefit; (2) impacts at institutional and policy levels; and (3) impacts on quality control and quarantine for market access of vegetable products.
