The United States may open its market to Philippine mangoes, with that country’s agriculture department funding a survey to find out which mango-producing areas have no incidence of mango seed and pulp weevils.
 
Provincial Agriculturist Joe Almendares said the project titled enhancing the export competitiveness of the Philippine super mango is being undertaken by the US Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Plant Industry.
 
“Areas found to be free from the pest will be issued a weevil-free certification and their produce can be accepted to the United States , but these should also be free of banned chemicals like chlorpyrifos and cypermetrin which are used as pesticides,” Almendares said. Read more

It is back to the basic for corn farmers in this province with the provincial government vigorously pushing for the use of biological control methods to combat pests affecting cornfields.
            Governor Victor Agbayani said there was a need implement the Integrated Pest Management, one component of which is biological control method, as a measure to protect the environment and as an alternative for the farmers who cannot afford the expensive commercial pesticides.
            Provincial Agriculturist Jose Almendares said his office has been mass producing friendly insect earwigs (Euborellia annulipes) which feeds on all stages (eggs and adults) of corn borers, and which will be sold to corn farmers starting this planting season. Read more