and independent structure for research (grant body) and development of BC as a
bridge for transfer of technical knowledge to the production sector will make a
significant difference in this regard. The development of technology for microbial
agents requires training and education of the public and private sectors.
17.6 Farmers Issues and Their Ability for BC
The lack of awareness about natural enemies and their potential in regulating
herbivore populations is important for using BC. The farmers need skills to make
their own farm decisions. In this regard, Heidari et al. (2011) acknowledged that
there is no other way than to rely on empowering farmers to solve the problem of
protection for agricultural products and the reduction in chemical pollutants that
endanger human health. Any decision on production is made only by farmers and
plans should be tailored to the socio-economic and cultural characteristics of different communities in ways that help farmers make better decisions. The articles related
to agricultural sector plans for using IPM and BC will be realized if the decisionmakers in crop management are farmers. For such decision-making, they need the
training enhancing their skills and make efforts as researchers rather than just
message recipients. Case studies in many countries, including Iran, which will be
referred to below, have shown that farmers are highly motivated to engage in
participatory research and acquire the skills to manage crop production and protection. However, poor management of different sectors has prevented farmers from
providing the necessary input for their farms to participate.
For example, rice farmers in Fereidoonkar, Mazandaran Province, North part of
Iran with the combination of rice-duck cultivation, in addition to removing other
weeds, herbicides and other pesticides improved the diversity of useful species in the
field and a better understanding of farmers contributed to the conservation of
ecosystems (Fig. 17.7) (Heidari et al. 2011; Osku et al. 2012). In many developing
countries, farmer field school (FFS) has been used for many years as the main
method to promote IPM. But without a full understanding of the effects of its
deployment at the national level, it has hardly been expanded from the pilot stage
to the broader levels. Studying the effects of FFS on its graduated farmers and
comparing the results with other farmers in the same villages and farmers in other
villages who were not aware of FFS at all showed that FFS participating farmers
were less likely to use chemical pesticides and had a practical knowledge of natural
enemies and the importance of not rushing into the spraying, but not transferring this
knowledge to other farmers as they should and perhaps. Silk producers in the North
of the country are also partially involved in the BC plan of the mulberry scale,
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, with much of mulberry scale inhibitory activity captured by parasitoid wasp of Prospaltela berlesi from the insectarium producing this
species at Iran Silk Company (Fathi et al. 2011; Heidari et al. 2011).
17 Analytical Approach to Opportunities and Obstacles of Iranian Biological. . .
617
bridge for transfer of technical knowledge to the production sector will make a
significant difference in this regard. The development of technology for microbial
agents requires training and education of the public and private sectors.
17.6 Farmers Issues and Their Ability for BC
The lack of awareness about natural enemies and their potential in regulating
herbivore populations is important for using BC. The farmers need skills to make
their own farm decisions. In this regard, Heidari et al. (2011) acknowledged that
there is no other way than to rely on empowering farmers to solve the problem of
protection for agricultural products and the reduction in chemical pollutants that
endanger human health. Any decision on production is made only by farmers and
plans should be tailored to the socio-economic and cultural characteristics of different communities in ways that help farmers make better decisions. The articles related
to agricultural sector plans for using IPM and BC will be realized if the decisionmakers in crop management are farmers. For such decision-making, they need the
training enhancing their skills and make efforts as researchers rather than just
message recipients. Case studies in many countries, including Iran, which will be
referred to below, have shown that farmers are highly motivated to engage in
participatory research and acquire the skills to manage crop production and protection. However, poor management of different sectors has prevented farmers from
providing the necessary input for their farms to participate.
For example, rice farmers in Fereidoonkar, Mazandaran Province, North part of
Iran with the combination of rice-duck cultivation, in addition to removing other
weeds, herbicides and other pesticides improved the diversity of useful species in the
field and a better understanding of farmers contributed to the conservation of
ecosystems (Fig. 17.7) (Heidari et al. 2011; Osku et al. 2012). In many developing
countries, farmer field school (FFS) has been used for many years as the main
method to promote IPM. But without a full understanding of the effects of its
deployment at the national level, it has hardly been expanded from the pilot stage
to the broader levels. Studying the effects of FFS on its graduated farmers and
comparing the results with other farmers in the same villages and farmers in other
villages who were not aware of FFS at all showed that FFS participating farmers
were less likely to use chemical pesticides and had a practical knowledge of natural
enemies and the importance of not rushing into the spraying, but not transferring this
knowledge to other farmers as they should and perhaps. Silk producers in the North
of the country are also partially involved in the BC plan of the mulberry scale,
Pseudaulacaspis pentagona, with much of mulberry scale inhibitory activity captured by parasitoid wasp of Prospaltela berlesi from the insectarium producing this
species at Iran Silk Company (Fathi et al. 2011; Heidari et al. 2011).
17 Analytical Approach to Opportunities and Obstacles of Iranian Biological. . .
617