The state of biocontrols among South African fruit growers
One apple grower from Elgin, South Africa, said growers can’t blame the product if it is mishandled along the way. As an example, he used a hypothetical, yet all-too-familiar scenario.
Hutton-Squire said a lot of growers lack the knowledge of how to apply biocontrols and how to use biologicals as a component to an integrated program.
He encouraged the growers in attendance to not only understand the importance of a strong Integrated Pest Management(IPM) approach but also to figure out how biological products can be a part of crop management.
Citrus Growing in South Africa
What’s noticeable first and foremost about citrus growing in South Africa is the use of organics and biological products within the industry. What’s absent from the equation that is present in the U.S. is the threat of Asian citrus psyllid. In fact, the biggest threat to the citrus industry in South Africa are thrips.
So integrating a softer approach to pest control and growing — as grower Marti Slabber’s family did — is easier for the South African citrus industry.
Slabber, Managing Director of Hexrivier Sitrus, in Citrusdal, South Africa, said the push to organics on her family farm came following a large red scale infestation that had become organophosphate resistant. Her family’s grove was also plagued by mealybugs for 10 years.
It’s this delicate balance between pest control and auxiliary pest flare ups that made Slabber’s family look to softer programs to get pest pressure under control.
Gerber said the biocontrol industry in South Africa is full of effective biologic products, there is a great opportunity for growers to adopt softer programs.
“You have to make a conscious decision to move to an IPM program. You have to stick with decisions you’ve made,” he said.
source: growingproduce.com
