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BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
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Cacao disease management
CACAO industry in the country has a great potential, not only as a source of food but as well as a good source of material in the manufacture of certain medicines.
But the industry is now facing a disease management threat.
To address this, different government and private agenciesstarted towork together to better understand, detect, and control the Vascular Streak Dieback (VSD) through a hands-on seminar.
The hands-on seminar, which was held at the Cacao Agribusiness Zone Center, Cocoa Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (CocoaPhil), in Talandang, Tugbok district, Davao City, sought to disseminate information on management and detection of the VSD through biological-based approaches.
VSD has been found in most cocoa-growing areas in the South and Southeast Asia, and Papua New Guinea.
It has been a major problem of the large commercial plantations located in West Malaysia and Sabah.
It is also widespread in Indonesia, including in the cocoa plantations of East and West Java.
Cases of VSD were also reported from Southern Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, and in the southern part of Philippines.
Dr. Dionisio G. Alvindia of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization said early detection is very important for the control of the disease.
To manage the disease, biological control is being developed through a program entitledāCacao Pest Management Program: Biological-based Approachesāthat is being implemented by the De La Salle University (DLSU), University of the Philippines Los BaƱos (UPLB).
The program is being funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST).
During the seminar, a VSD pictorial guide was provided to initially aid the farmer-participants on VSD detection ā both on cacao seedlings and planted trees.
Dr. Lilia M. Fernando of the UPLB-National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) presented its project on nanosensors, which will be useful for farmers in detecting the disease.
While Dr. Alberto T. Barrion, one of the Cacao Pest Management project leaders, stressed the importance of using biological-based approaches as a better and sustainable strategy in managing pests and diseases of cacao, compared with the chemical-based control methods.
Aside from the lectures and presentations, the participants also engaged themselves on hands-on activities during the cacao nursery and plantation visit.
The PCAARRD-DOST is supportive of the cacao industry, being one of the priority crops under its Industry Strategic Science and Technology Programs (ISPs).
The program seeks to further develop the cacao industry through science-based solutions and innovations.
The initiative of PCAARRD is expected to boost the production of small-scale farmers in the country who are in dire need of government interventions to improve their quality of life./PN
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