Progress made in battling coconut scale insect infestation – PCA

Some progress has been made in the battle against the scale insect infestation attacking coconut plantations in nine municipalities in Batangas, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said. According to PCA administrator Euclides Forbes, the agency has established five laboratories for the mass rearing of predators to be used as biocontrol agents and the field-testing of chemical and non-chemical pest control agents. "We are now increasing interventions and many have joined in the fight against the infestation. this takes effort to prevent the spread of the infestation to other areas and prevent damage to young coconuts," he said. The Batangas municipalities affected by the blight are Agoncillo, Balete, Calaca, Laurel, Lemery, Malvar, Sto. Tomas, Talisay and Tanauan. The average infestation rate among the towns its currently at 31.25 percent. So far, the government has spent P5.2 trying to reduce the infestation in the municipalities. The number of infected trees currently comprise less than 1 percent of the Philippines' 350 million coconut trees. As part of the measures against the infestation, the PCA has advised the farmers to limit their use of pesticides to avoid adverse effects on nuts and instead spray the trees with vinegar or liquid soap. Thousands of predator coccinellid insects have also been released to control the scale insect population. The scale insect feeds on coconut trees' sap, resulting in the yellowing, drying and wilting of leaves and premature nut fall. The PCA estimates that it will take three years before the affected trees can return to their normal production capacity. — BM, GMA News