Marilou Infante, head of the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) of the Department of Agriculture 11 (DA 11), said her office will educate durian farmers on the different pests such as phytophthora infestans or water mold and dieback that are destroying their crops.
Dieback’s common symptom is characterized by the progressive death of twigs, branches, shoots, or roots, starting at the tips.
Infante said this education and awareness concerning pests are for those durian farmers not growing Puyat variety.
“Sayod man ta nga puyat ang ginaduso nga variety for export pero naa pud lain variety sama sa Arancillo, Cob, Duyaya. Pero ang ginaduso ang Puyat kay kusog ug tolerant ug makasukol sa usa ka klase na sakit na phytophthora infestans. Uban na mga farmers na wala nagtanum ug Puyat makita nato nga naay mga dieback plant disease, usa ka sakit sa durian nga gikan sa taas sa punuan pababa,” Infante said during P.E.P Talks media forum at SM Lanang Premier on Tuesday.
She also said that durian farmers should be aware of what kind of disease or pest is destroying their durians for smooth planting specially with the impending El Niño.
“Among ginaawhag ang mga farmers na magbantay gyud sa ilahang pananum, tagaan ug igo nga patubig kay ang durian sensitive kaayo ug dali lang malusno,” she said.
Infante emphasized that various plant diseases and pests frequently pose a hazard to crops including durian. These can harm crops and lower their yield and quality.
With this, the Pest Management Council of the Philippines will hold its 55th anniversary and annual scientific conference at Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases in Davao City on July 4 to 7, 2023.
The activity will be highlighted with PMCP’s Farmers’ Forum and Pest Clinic.
