Diagnóstico sobre o uso do MIP nas principais áreas produtoras de melão dos Estados do Rio Grande do Norte e Ceará.

Melon farims in the states of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) and Ceara (CE), Brazil, are highlighted for their production at both local and international trade. In order to ensure the fruit quality and to reduce the damage caused by pest insects, farmers have to use different pest management strategies that are economically and environmentally sustainable. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the information level of small and medium exporting melon farmers by means of a questionnaire that explores the knowledge about the Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Interviews were conducted, by way of semi structured questionnaire with 29 questions, with 25 melon farmers from the countryside of Mossoro and Barauna (RN) and from the countryside of Aracati (CE). The pest management strategies used by these farmers is based on physical (use of Typar® fabric and windbreaks), cultural (rotation and destruction of crop residues) and chemical (synthetic insecticides) methods. The last method is practiced by all farmers at different times throughout cropping. However biological control or the conservation of natural enemy techniques, is not frequently used by these farmers, primarily due to lack of knowledge and technical training on the handling of beneficial agents used in pest control programs.