DA provides measures to prevent spread of leaf fall disease on rubber tree farms in Caraga
By Jennifer Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) – To address the emerging leaf fall disease on rubber trees, also known as Pestalotiopsis, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga, together with the Philippine Rubber Research Institute (PRRI), recently conducted a technical briefing for local government units (LGUs) and farm cluster leaders in Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
DA Regional Executive Director Ricardo OΓ±ate, Jr., revealed that Pestalotiopsis occurs during prolonged wet weather and high humidity conditions.
“The
disease can infect leaves, shoots, twigs, fruits, and seeds of a rubber tree.
It causes leaf defoliation up to 80-100 percent, which will affect latex
production,” he said.
“Spraying
fungicides can be taken as preventive measures to control the spread of this
disease. Planters are advised to be vigilant and take precautionary measures to
protect our rubber plantations,” cited OΓ±ate.
Prior to
the briefing, the DA, through the Technical Working Group on Pestalotiopsis,
conducted field monitoring and validation of rubber farms and the extent of
infection with the disease in rubber areas in the region. The results of the
said validation served as the basis for proposals or measures to help farmers
recover from this situation.
The DA
also strengthened its promotion of the use of the biocontroagent Trichoderma
harzianum to control the disease. In addition, the agency has also distributed
fungicides to pestalotiopsis-infected areas.
The disease was first observed in April last year on two rubber tree farms in Agusan del Sur.
The
airborne disease has since spread to other rubber farms in Caraga.
Based on
the Damage Assessment Reports submitted by the LGUs to the DA, as of February
7, 2024, there are 1,765 hectares that have already been infected with
Pestalotiopsis, and 1,120 farmers have been affected.
With
this, the DA deemed it necessary to brief the LGUs about Pestalotiopsis and the
grave threat it poses tothe rubber industry of the region if left
unattended.
Technical
personnel from the DA, PRRI, and the Bureau of Plant Industry also discussed
the various prevention and management methods for the disease.
Moreover,
other steps that can be taken to help contain the spread of the disease, such
as the crafting of local policies and ordinances, were also discussed.
According
to Engr. Evangeline P. Garcia, training specialist II of the PRRI, most rubber
farms infected with Pestalotiopsis were forest-like, had no fertilization, did
not observe proper planting distance, and had high-density planting. Hence, she
emphasized the importance of sanitation and following good agricultural
management practices to keep crops from getting infected with diseases.
On the
other hand, DA-Caraga Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca R.
Atega stressed the importance of the LGUs’ cooperation with the DA and the PRRI
in addressing the rubber leaf fall disease.
She added that the LGUs play a very important role in containing the disease, especially in terms of coming up with policies or ordinances to help contain the disease.
“We
encouraged our counterparts from the LGUs to help our farmers by coming up with
concrete ways to preventfurther damage caused by Pestalotiopsis. As we aid them
with the right machinery, we will also guide them on how to sustain their
produce,” said Atega.
The
participating LGus and the rubber farmers, on the other hand, took an active
part inthe briefing and contributed their insights on how to prevent further
impacts of the Pestalotiopsis, as they fear that this will greatly affect their
livelihood.
Data from
the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (CIAR) showed
that rubber is Agusan del Sur’s fourth largest crop, but only 50 percent of the
total planted area is productive or tappable, and the average cuplump yield of
0.9 tonnes per hectare per year is much lower than the national average of 1.28
thousand hectares per year.
Hence, the agriculture department in the region is gearing up its effort to improve the rubber industry in partnership with potential stakeholders. (JPG, PIA-Caraga with a report from DA-Caraga)
