Plant Protection In The Tropics For A Healthy World

Kuching : For the first time in the history of the Malaysian Plant Protection Society (MAPPS), the 9th International Conference on Plant Protection in the Tropics (9th ICPPT) was held in Kuching Sarawak start from 3-5 August 2016 with themed "Healthy Crops for a Healthy World".

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also Minister of Agriculture, Modernisation and Rural Economy, said ICPPT Conference provide an excitement platform for exchange of ideas and transfer of knowledge that will bring the Science of cultivating healthy crop to a greater heights.

"This would be and ideal forum and platform for plant health issues in the tropics in particular and in the world in general with the experience can be shared to boost crop production enhancing food quality and benefit both producers in the large plantations as well as the small-scale farmers not only the quality of food crop be increased but also the livelihood of farmers improved,"

"Healthy crop with reduced risk of pest infestation and disease susceptibility is impertinent for food safety and security," he said that in his speech at the 9th ICPPT in Kuching today.

This conference gathers 150 delegates from 13 countries comprises researchers, practitioners, consumers and the industries to provide update on the challenges and latest development in plant protection.

"With the convening of plant protectionists comprising of plant pathologists, entomologists, bio-technologist, weed scientist and the likes, progress in dealing with current issues in plant protection can be updated and adequately addressed," he said.

He added, with the advent of nano formulations, importance of integrated pest management based on sustainable bioligical system, the options and opportunity to grow healthy crop is much greater than had ever been possible in the past. - Sarawakiana