Crop Pests and Diseases Management

What does this skill involve?

Activities may include but are not limited to:

Touring the farm to scout pest and diseases
Applying pest and diseases prevention and control practices
Operating tools and equipment used in management of pest and diseases
Strengthening skills and knowledge of farmers on pest and disease management
Produce extension materials used to train farmers
Provide technical leadership in the management of invasive species

Skill levels

Notices the presence of common pests and diseases in the field. Follows simple instructions to scout and manage pests and diseases in the field.

Seeks guidance in unfamiliar cases to identify pests and diseases in the field. Recognises the presence of invasive species. Understands basic biological principles of how pests and diseases spread. Demonstrates basic skills in using equipment for managing pests and diseases. Demonstrates basic skills in applying available pests and diseases management methods.

Confirms the presence of a problem caused by a pest or a disease in the field. Understands the biology of some pests and diseases and how they spread. Can operate simple equipment for managing pests and diseases. Applies effective management practices in simple pest and disease cases. Consults experts in complex or unknown pest and disease cases.

Analyses the status of pests and diseases and decides on which management practices to apply. Correctly applies a methodology for diagnosing pests and diseases. Applies effective management practices in complex cases. Recommends suitable treatments for known pests and diseases.

Ensures that measures for mitigation and control of pests and diseases are applied correctly. Provides technical guidance on invasive species management. Ensures that management practices are economically viable, environmentally friendly and compliant with regulations. Organises awareness campaigns for pests and diseases management.

Demonstrates expertise in pest and disease management. Initiates proposals of strategic measures to control pests and diseases. Conducts studies on pests and diseases and their effective management. Works with stakeholders to advocate for strategies and policies that reflects the situation and influences major shifts in the sector. Leads the team to study and predict the economic implications of damage caused by pests and diseases.

Applies wide-scale leadership in the management of pests and diseases. Sets strategy for invasive species management. Leads the development of policies on management of pests and diseases.