Solutions for every crop

Black pod (Phytophthora) in the rainy season and mirids in the second half of the year are the two major constraints; sanitary harvesting, controlled shade and well-timed sprays limit their impact.

Fall armyworm and stem borers attack from the earliest stages; early weed control, up to the 8-leaf stage, is decisive for yield.

Weeds (grasses, sedges and broadleaves), rice blast and stem borers are the main yield-limiting factors in both irrigated and upland rice.

Weed control during the first three months is decisive; healthy cuttings limit cassava mosaic disease, and mealybugs and green mites need watching in the dry season.

Nematodes (Scutellonema bradys) damage tubers and shorten their storage life, while anthracnose (Colletotrichum) can defoliate fields in the wet season.

Keeping palm circles and inter-rows clean and controlling perennial grasses such as Imperata are decisive, especially during the immature phase.

Anthracnose and powdery mildew at flowering, and Helopeltis bugs at flushing and fruit set, determine the number of nuts harvested.

Flower induction (forcing) groups flowering and harvest; nematodes and mealybug wilt must be monitored from planting.

Fruit flies, mites and scale insects, together with fungal and bacterial diseases (leaf and fruit spot, canker), affect both yield and fruit appearance.

Tuta absoluta, whiteflies (vectors of TYLCV), root-knot nematodes, late blight and early blight: only integrated protection with rotation of modes of action secures production.

Whiteflies and thrips (virus vectors), mites, fruit anthracnose and root-knot nematodes: protection starts in the nursery.

Asian soybean rust, leaf spots and defoliating caterpillars are the main enemies; keep weeds under control until canopy closure.