Strengthening Agricultural Extension and Communication Systems for Sustainable Mango Pest Management in the Philippines: A Participatory Development Communication Approach

Perennial fruit systems worldwide continue to face persistent pest and disease pressures that undermine productivity and market access. Although Integrated Pest Management (IPM) offers a sustainable alternative to routine pesticide use, global evidence shows that adoption remains partial, shaped not only by technical constraints but also by the effectiveness of agricultural extension and communication systems. These systems influence how farmers interpret pest risks, access knowledge, and make management decisions.

In the Philippines, mango production is central to rural livelihoods yet remains below its potential due to longstanding pest problems such as fruit fly, cecid fly, and anthracnose. Field losses of 10–40 percent and low national yields reflect both ecological pressures and systemic advisory gaps. Its pesticide use per hectare more
than doubled between 1990 and 2023, coinciding with a weakening of extension delivery. The country’s pluralistic extension system produces uneven service quality, inconsistent technical messaging, and an information environment where agro dealers and informal networks often become the most influential advisors,
reinforcing chemical-intensive practices. Social and gendered inequities further constrain knowledge access, while behavioural tendencies such as habits, heuristics, and peer norms shape farmers’ responses to pest pressures.

This study aims to strengthen agricultural extension and communication systems to support sustainable mango pest management in the Philippines. It proceeds in four parts: (1) a systematic literature review synthesising global and regional evidence on extension, communication, and pest management; (2) an expert based Analytic Hierarchy Process surveys to assess institutional constraints and advisory gaps; (3) farmer level AHP, interviews, and focus group discussions examining decision-making and information use; and (4) a Participatory and Integrated Planning workshop to co-design forward-looking extension and communication strategies.

The study contributes an evidence-based framework for improving advisory systems, advancing understanding of behavioural and institutional drivers of pesticide use, and supporting more credible, accessible, and socially resonant IPM extension and communication.