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[av_heading heading=’Strategies to address invasive cocolisap’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
By JULIO P. YAP JR.
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Friday, March 9, 2018
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KEY officials and experts from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), De La Salle University (DLSU, and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) gathered to address the ongoing coconut scale insect (CSI) infestation affecting the Zamboanga Region.
They are expected to polish targets and strategies of the two newly-approved projects that will implement rapid and efficient response to address the invasive coconut pest.
The epidemic caused by CSI, Aspidiotus rigidus, or commonly known as cocolisap, has been reported in the whole of the Zamboanga Peninsula after its infestation in Basilan has reached the borders of Zamboanga City.
This posed a serious problem as some of the largest coconut plantations and several important accessions of coconut are found in the region.
Most importantly, it is a threat to the largest coconut germplasm collection in the world, which is located at the PCA-Zamboanga Research Center (PCA-ZRC).
PCA-ZRC division manager Ramon L. Rivera, and Dr. Divina M. Amalin, Entomology and Nematology expert of the DLSU, will lead the two projects.
The initiatives are expected to identify suitable control measure, expand rearing facilities, and assess the efficiency of CSI pest response in the region.
Rivera will focus on developing a science and technology(S&T) protocol on the utilization of the parasitoid, Comperiella calauanica, and enhancement of natural controlling factors for the sustainable management of CSI at the PCA-ZRC and in Zamboanga City.
While Amalin will lead the implementation of integrated pest management strategies through infestation mapping and proper pest control application to address the CSI infestation in Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur.
To provide technical guidance for the smooth implementation of the projects, Dr. Celia DR. Medina of the Institute of Weed Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology of the College of Agriculture and Food Science, UPLB, was invited to attend the said activity.
She encouraged close collaboration between the two implementing agencies in order to properly execute their workplans and effectively control the infestation.
She also stressed that a proper production system should be developed and quality standards should be identified based on what is more applicable on the CSI status in the region.
According to Dr. Jocelyn E. Eusebio, director of PCAARRD’s Crops Research Division (CRD), these projects are already extensions of initial efforts made to control the infestation of CSI in the country.
However, she still hopes that the meeting serves as a venue to identify and implement new strategies to rapidly address the problem of cocolisap in Zamboanga.
With this action research, a system that will aid in pest response detection will be established to address CSI infestation not only in the Zamboanga Peninsula, but also in other coconut-growing areas in the country.
The meeting was organized by CRD and Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) Manager for Coconut Dr. Edna A. Anit.
Several DOST-PCAARRD, PCA, and National Crop Protection Center-UPLB staff members were also present during the activity. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
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