Development of integrated pest management program for mango in Palawan, Philippines

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) involve the use of selective control methods to reduce the amount of insecticide applied to crops. An IPM program depends on the kind of insects and diseases present in the locality. This IPM program was developed for Palawan mango trees with emphasis on control of the mango pulp weevil, an important quarantine pest, the larvae of which feeds on the mango fruit pulp without indication of damage on the fruit peel. Other problems in Palawan mangoes include leafhopper, anthracnose and scab. The IPM program developed consists of control strategies, namely: cultural methods (open-center prunning and sanitation) and pest monitoring as a basis for chemical control. Open-center prunning was carried out to kill the weevils hiding at the tree trunk from exposure to sunlight. It was found that a 10-minute exposure at certain times of the day resulted in 100% death of weevils. Effective insecticides for chemical control were identified such as chlorpyrifos + cypermethin and lambda-cyhalothrin. This program resulted in the reduction of the number of sprayings from a previous 24 to 7 and a significant reduction of mango pulp weevil infestation on fruits from 40% to 0. The yield increased with a net benefit of Php 1890 per mango tree or a marginal rate of return of 614%. The pesticide protocol of two companies were also demonstrated. It was found that the insecticides were efficient in controlling pest populations when the recommended dose rates and the proper interval were followed. This disproves the farmer's claim of insecticide inefficiency.