Agriculture Business Week

As farmers quest for farm technologies that will significantly increase productivity, crop production practices continue to change. Yet plant diseases remain a big problem, limiting yields.

An effective disease management involves good agronomic practices such as balanced and appropriate fertilization, crop rotation, tillage, and weed control. But plant disease prevention and identification are still the best and first line of defenses against the onslaught of diseases.

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This article is co-authored by Lorelvn Joy Turnos, a research associate of Pioneer Hi-Bred Philippines based in Mindanao. For further information on this article, send your inquiries to mark.nas@pioneer.com.

In this issue, we will talk about another important bacterial disease of rice known as bacterial leaf streak (BLS), which is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzicola. The disease is less popular and less invasive than bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, but is generally more prevalent and infectious during rainy seasons.

Symptoms and mechanisms of damages of the two bacterial diseases are almost similar. Hence, it is very important for the rice growers to gain skills and expertise in distinguishing what particular causal organisms are attacking their fields, and what types of symptoms are manifested by the crops. BLS infection usually comes in earlier than BLB, wherein disease symptoms become noticeable 40 to 45 days after seeding (DAS).

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Coming from the heels of ebola reston virus and AH1N1, typhoon-induced devastation and business risks brought about by foreign trade agreements, the swine business in the Philippines has become an interesting business, if not complicated. Pundits will definitely agree that this multi-billion peso sector, along with the corn industry, has faced more challenges than any agribusiness in the country.

Nevertheless, the industry’s resiliency is as “fat” as ever with stakeholders vowing to revive its vibrancy and entering 2010 with very bright prospects. Amid all ordeals, industry players are determined to hurdle insurmountable obstacles to get the sector back on the right track.

The stigma of 2009
Data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) show that in 2009 hog production managed to post a 1.16 percent increase due to the number of fatteners which resulted in increased number of animals sold for slaughter in Visayas and Mindanao. BAS also said the control of Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive System (PRRS) due to vaccination in Luzon regions resulted in the recovery of farms in the third quarter of last year.

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Not many noticed the decrease in mango harvests from Central Luzon last summer. Mango growers from Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, however, felt the difference with last season’s harvests falling behind expected yield due to a pest called cecid fly or gall midge.

This fly, known as ‘saksak walis’ or `kurikong’ in Luzon, `buti,’ or `armalite,’ ‘Gloria-gloria,’ or ‘Nora-nora’ in the Visayas and Mindanao, infests mango farms across the country.

The adult mango cecid fly resembles a mosquito and commonly lays its eggs on young mango leaves. The larvae which develop from eggs, mine the leaves producing dark green circular galls or swelling of tissues along the leaf blade. When the adults emerge from these galls, the leaves develop circular spots or holes which are sometimes mistaken as fungal infection. Under heavy infestations, the leaves wrinkle and turn yellow.

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Modern agriculture produces high yields, but is often not sustainable. Expensive seeds and farm chemicals eat into profit. Pesticides upset the natural balance between predators and pests, and chemical poison groundwater and rivers.

“Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are killed due to accidental poisoning by agricultural chemicals,” says Roy C. Alimoane, director of the Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation, Inc.

The Geneva-based World Health Organization reports that three people are poisoned by pesticides every minute around the world. All in all, about 10,000 die annually due to pesticides.

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Worms, bugs and other rice pests are an enigma to many farmers as these are threats to rice production.

To most farmers, commercial insecticides and pesticides are the most effective and readily available pest controls. What they don’t realize is that these cost them added expenses not to mention the bad effects of these chemicals to health and environment.

Dr. Alfredo R. Rabena, head of the Research and Development Office of the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City, Ilocos, has discovered a solution. He found that the leaves of kakawate tree or Mexican Lilac (Glinicidia sepium) contains coumarins, an effective botanopesticide.

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Pummelo has a good market potential. That’s because it is not only delicious and nutritious, it is also not perishable, hence it can be transported to distant markets. Local production, however, is insufficient and one big reason is pest infestation.

Good thing there’s a simple way to control infestation of pummelo, and that is bagging. Bagging is actually not new. This is done in other countries but usually for the control of fruit fly, which is not a major pest in the Philippines.

The major pest in the country that infests pummelo is Citrus Rind Borer (CRB). In fact it is considered as the most destructive pest as infestation has reached as high as 60 to 80 percent. Pesticide application is still the common way to control CRB, but this is expenssive and harmful to the health.

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Not many have noticed that there was a decrease in mango harvests from Central Luzon this summer. Mango growers from Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, however, felt the difference with this season’s harvests ailing behind the expected yield. The culprit is the pest called cecid fly or gall midge. These flies caused infestation in mango arms across the country and are also known by many names such as “saksak walis” or “kurikong” in Luzon, and “buti,” armalite,” “Gloria-gloria,” or “Nora-nora” a the Visayas and Mindanao.

The adult mango cecid fly resembles a mosquito and commonly lays its eggs on young mango leaves. The larvae, which develop from eggs, mine the leaves producing dark green circular galls or swelling of tissues along the leaf blade. When he adults emerged from these galls, the paves produced circular spots of holes, which are sometimes mistaken as fungal infection. Under heavy infestations, the leaves wrinkle and become yellow.

The infestation, however, affects the fruits more. When hit early, young mango fruits fall off from the tree. Fruits that remain produce circular brown scablike spots, which are randomly distributed on the fruit’s surface. Infested fruits retain these scabby lesions till they are up for harvest, thus affecting their quality and commanding a lower market price.

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A rubber disease which affected many plantations in Sri Lanka in the mid 1980s has entered the Philippines.

The leaf spot disease is found and documented recently at the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) by plant pathologist Dr. Naomi G. Tangonan and researchers Jasmine A. Pecho and Elaine Genivive G. Butardo. It has affected rubber nurseries and plantations in USM, particularly the RRIM 600 rubber, which is known for having high latex yield.

Caused by the fungus Corynespora cassiicola, leaf spot disease symptoms are the yellowing of and occurrence of large lesions that look like railroad track on the leaves. The disease usually occurs during refoliation period. It infects new foliage flushes, killing young branches if the infection is severe.

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A consultation meeting on the anthracnose disease in mango was tackled in a consultation meeting facilitated by Dr. Teodoro Solsoloy, assistant director of the Bureau of Agricultural Research.

Among the participants were Roberto C. Amores, president of Philfoodex and CEO of a mango exporting firm, Director Ricardo Cachuela of the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension, Kevin Yaptengco of the UPLB Institute of Agricultural Engineering, a representative of the Bureau of Plant Industry, and technical personnel of BAR.

The discussion focused on how to address the presence of anthracnose disease in mango fruits, also known as black spots. This disease is caused by a fungus called Colletotrichum gleosporioides and is considered a very serious disease of mango. Anthracnose infects almost all parts of the mango, including flower panicles, twigs, leaves, and fruits of mature as well as immature trees.

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Researchers at the Philippine Rootcrop Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops) of the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay, Leyte have unveiled what could become the next potential biological control for anthracnose in ubi and other plant diseases.

Julie D. Tan, Evelyn B. Taboada, May V. Tampus, Jilly B. Regis and Rodney H. Perez have isolated and tested the endophytic microorganisms found in sweetpotato, which are recognized as source of secondary metabolites useful in biotechnology and agriculture. Initial results have confirmed that these endophytes produce antimicrobial compounds that inhibit the growth of disease-causing microorganisms in plants.

In their study titled “Antimicrobial evaluation and effects of fermentation process conditions of bioactive compounds produced by endophytic Bacillus sp. against some selected food and plant pathogens”, the researchers screened isolates of endophytes from rootcrop-based products and other related fermented food products for their abilities to inhibit the growth of some selected food pathogens. They also determined the effects of fermentation on the productivity and activity of the biocontrol compound.

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Here’s an in-depth look at the world of swine raising and the potential business you can get out of it.

Mastitis-metritis-agalactia, syndrome or MMA syndrome, also known as post-partum dysgalactia, is commonly caused by nonspecific or unknown sources. Mastitis and agalactia is the absence or lack of milk in sows.

MMA syndrome may be caused by infection or stress from excitement or difficulty in farrowing. This condition may also be caused by digestive difficulty or by environmental factors.

Metritis is referred as the nonspecific inflammation of the uterus and is associated with abortion, difficult delivery, or retained placenta.

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Care and Health Practices

Common Diseases and Parasites

Hog Cholera or Swine Fever

Pigs gets contaminated through direct contact or by eating uncooked slops or kitchen scraps containing the virus

Signs

• Fever, loss of appetite
• Increased thirst, chills and sometimes vomiting
• Constipation, later followed by diarrhea
• Inflammation of the eye (conjunctivitis) thick discharges causing eyelids to stick together
• Reddish, purple discoloration of skin at ears, abdomen, inner thighs or tai
• Death ensues 4-7 days after onset of signs
• Prolonged duration of illness (chronic form) terminates in pneumonia or hemorrhagic enteritis, or both

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Here’s an easy do-it-yourself guide to managing your own garden of high-value fruits and vegetables.

Lettuce is one of the long standing high-value crops in the Cordillera. This vegetable is appropriate for the said location because of the location’s cold climate. Currently, an approximate of 407 hectares of Cordillera land is used for growing lettuce.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an economically-important member of the compositae family. This is a cool weather vegetable and grows in the ideal temperature of 60 to 70 Fahrenheit. Lettuce has five varieties including leaf or loose-leaf, Cos or romaine, crisphead, butterhead, and stem or asparagus lettuce.

Leaf lettuce is characterized by crisp leaves loosely arranged on the stalk. Leaf lettuce type includes Salad Bowl, Early Curked Simpson, and Slobolt.

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