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Pruning, spraying, and fertilization of Coconut

The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) on Monday vows to continue enforcing measures to wipe out small scale insect infestation among the country's coconut trees.

PCA reported positive development in its mitigating measures to combat coconut scale insect infestation affecting nine municipalities in Batangas.

In a statement, Euclides Forbes, PCA administrator, said that coconut farmers attested to the effectivity of the measures being undertaken – including pruning, spraying, and fertilization.

Forbes said that they had already spent over P5 million to treat infected trees, adding that they would continue to provide technical and financial support to totally eradicate the infestation.

"Technical staff from LGU's (local government units) and farmers observed that after leaf pruning, coconut trees fully recovered when salt is applied as fertilizer," Forbes said.

As of October 2012, there were already 252,967 leaves pruned in the affected municipalities. There are still pruning and spraying activities on-going in some barangays (villages), he said.

On the other hand, Norlito Gicana, director of Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), cautioned farmers from spraying pesticides on infected coconut trees, noting that there are no registered pesticide discovered for coconuts.

"Insecticides may leave residue on nuts," Gicana said.

Dr. Luis Rey Velasco, an entomologist from the University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB) also warned farmers from using pesticide, saying that spraying chemicals should not go on excess because it gives negative impact on natural enemies.

Experts, including those from PCA Albay and Davao Research Centers, said that this scale insect has been in the Philippines a long time ago.

This was the first time to have an outbreak on this infestation. They advised to observe proper leaf pruning to prevent the coconut scale insect in spreading to the nearby areas.

On the other hand, mass rearing of predators (bio-control agents) is continuously being done.

Early this year, around 1000 predators have already been released. After releasing these predators, it will take three years to bring treated coconut trees to normal production.

In addition, five satellite laboratories for mass rearing of predators will be established with PCA Alaminos, Laguna as the main laboratory.

Another measure that the experts are looking at is to spray vinegar and liquid soap separately. Washing infected plant parts or a brisk wash spray of vinegar or liquid soap can be helpful in reducing population.


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