The core of the CIAP IPM team is composed of four DOA technicians and an IRRI crop protection specialist. Students from the Royal Agriculture University and Prek Leap University also conduct crop protection research under the supervision of the CIAP IPM Program. This includes biological control, chemical control and cultural control. IPM is based on developing sustainable systems for monitoring, preventing, and controlling pests in economically and environmentally sound ways.
Pests are any organisms with the potential to reduce profits or yields.
Pests include weeds, pathogens which cause disease, and animals, e.g. insects, crustaceans, vertebrates. This is achieved by Identifying pests and natural enemies in rice and associated crops. The discovery of new potential pests. The determination of the effects of pests and pest damage on crop yields. The development and testing of techniques for monitoring, preventing, and controlling pests.