The Non-Aligned Movement Centre for South-South Technical Cooperation and the International Coconut Community Organised Training on the Management of Pest and Disease
Pests are infectious organisms that cause damage and thus affect agricultural production of coconuts. A reduction in yields is one of the causes.
The Rhinoceros beetle is one form of coconut pests that frequently causes losses in the cultivation of coconut. This pest is a widespread pest that affects 3 to 15 year old coconut trees. Besides Rhinoceros beetles, rodents are also pests which can destroy coconut trees.
These are lecture by the Principal Entomologist, Coconut Research Institute Sri Lanka, Dr. Nayanie Aratchige (11/3) during a virtual training event on good agricultural practice, the replanting programme and integrated pest management programme to sustain the production of coconut, attended by participants from 16 member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement Centre for South-South Technical Cooperation (NAM CSSTC) and the International Coconut Community.
“Farmers cannot get rid of the Rhinoceros simply by removing the breeding sites in the yard, as the Rhinoceros can move a lot from one place to another,” Dr. Nayanie continued. “Rhinoceros can also be coming to his yard from the neighbouring yard.”
“In Sri Lanka, the government introduces large-scale trapping programmes.”
According to Dr. Nayanie, pheromone traps can cover 25 hectares are being set up in Sri Lanka.
The training also shared information to participants on how to handle rodents through the use of baiting, tree banding and rodent toxic chemicals. In addition, biocontrol agents have also been introduced for the control of pests and diseases.
Acting Director-NAM CSSTC, Ambassador Diar Nurbintoro, in his closing remarks, said, “We agreed to further investigate, including selection and testing of additional biocontrol agents, the impact on pest control, and the role of coconut volatiles as vectors of pest diseases.”
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