Science can increase incomes. But the wrong application of science in the case of the Coconut Scale Insect (CSI-cocolisap) can decrease these same incomes.
It is acknowledged both domestically and globally that President Aquino has achieved significant success in fields as varied as governance, the economy and health. But as in all cases, some areas can still be improved. One such area is more attention given to science as a tool to improve incomes.
At the July 26 Science Forum, Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator Romulo Arancon highlighted the importance of the coconut industry. This is not only the largest, but also the poorest agriculture sector. It involves 3.5 million farmers located in 68 of our 79 provinces. If the spread of the cocolisap is not arrested immediately, our coconut farmers who earn an annual average of P20,000 per hectare will be further impoverished.
Arancon stated that the current government-approved protocol is to inject a chemical insecticide into the coconut trees to kill the cocolisap. When this protocol was approved last June 5, the date of Executive Order 169 “establishing emergency measures to control and manage the spread and damage” of cocolisap, the coconut task force’s scientists stated that the only viable alternative available was the chemical insecticide called neonicotinoids. At that time, it was said that no organic alternatives had been accredited by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA).
E.O. 169’s section 3 states: “The Bureau of Plant Industry may deputize PCA and the Philippine National Police and law enforcement offices to investigate and apprehend those caught violating the emergency and quarantine measures.”
Some people intent on discrediting the government are using this section to claim that farmers who do not use this chemical intervention will automatically be apprehended. But this apprehension involves only those who violate the quarantine provisions properly set up to contain the infestation, and not the use of the chemical insecticide.
Since June 5, several things have happened.
An organic alternative called Crop Guard by Chemrez Corporation has been accredited by FPA. Unknown to the task force, Seacrop by scientist Jose Riga was likewise accredited much earlier by FPA. It is an organic foliar fertilizer with pesticide and fungicide properties that already has a successful track record in combating scale insects in coconuts, bananas, and mangoes in Mindanao and Luzon.
Other scientists such as former UPLB dean Ayds Adalla and Professor Edgar Maranan have organic alternatives that are awaiting FPA accreditation. Since all of this information was not available last June 5, the protocol recommended was limited to the chemical alternative.
Incomes
Using neonicotinoids is not advocated by many scientists. Last July 23, a dissenting group of scientists strongly recommended alternative organic approaches.
Lito Abelarde, president of the Philippine Chamber of Herbal Industries, said injecting chemical insecticides would destroy the market for Philippine coconut products. He pointed out that, similar to the campaign falsely claiming that coconuts have harmful cholesterol, this chemical insecticide would likewise be used by our market competitors to damage our rapidly-increasing global coconut market. Neonicotinoids are already banned in many European countries.
Last July 16, nature appears to have sided with the organic advocates. The PCA had specified that the chemical injection would be used only in areas severely affected by the cocolisap, which drastically reduces the ability of coconut trees to produce nuts. But since Typhoon “Glenda” had killed much of the cocolisap, the contention that there are no more severely affected coconut areas would be verified within 30 days. If so, the chemical alternative would no longer be recommended.
Farmer’s choice
Farmers should use science to increase, rather than decrease their incomes. If neonicotinoids are the only alternative to control the cocolisap, then these should be used. But if other scientists have other organic alternatives, these should instead be used to save our markets and consequently increase our incomes. Since the coconut farmers are constrained by law only to observe the cocolisap quarantine regulations, they are therefore free to decide which chemical or organic alternative they wish to use and exercise “farmer’s choice.”
Announcement
As a concrete example of science increasing incomes, there will be a soy demonstration at 9 a.m. this Saturday, Aug. 2 at the World Trade Center on Gil Puyat Ave.
Open to the public, this demonstration, with Alyansa Agrikultura and Go Negosyo involvement, will be conducted by Department of Agriculture National Soy Program Coordinator Jennilyn Castanedo (09275716171).
It will show how science can help convert a P50 soy investment into milk and veggie meat worth P10,000.
(The author is chair of Agriwatch, former Secretary for Presidential Flagship Programs and Projects, and former Undersecretary for Agriculture, Trade and Industry. For inquiries and suggestions, e-mail agriwatch_phil@yahoo.com or telefax (02) 8522112).