Mission 5: Visit to project sites

Kastom Gaden Association
Planting Material Network, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, and PestNet

Linking Farmers to Plant Protection Network
(Solomon Islands)

Project #1222 infoDev The World Bank

7 – 24 August 2004

Sydney
August 2004

Introduction


During the first year of the two-year Linking farmers to plant protection networks project, workshops were completed on taro, sliperi kabis and watermelon at four villages: Gwaiau, Gwou’ulu, Malothawa and Takwa. Farmers selected crop/pest combinations and control measures. Monitoring of the farmers’ trials is the task of the KGA Community Field Officer employed under the project, assisted by DAL and PestNet. Another task, is to conduct an awareness campaign in the project area to inform farmers about the email station, what it is, how it works, and how they can make use of it to obtain information on agricultural matters, plant protection in particular.

PestNet moderators endeavour to visit the project quarterly, and this report describes the fifth mission, 8-24 August 2004. The purpose of the visit was to discuss the progress of experiments in the four villages and to develop the basis for an awareness campaign to encourage farmers elsewhere to use the email facility at Silolo.

This report has been compiled by PestNet (Grahame Jackson) and DAL Field Officer Malu’u (John Faleka).
The Community Field Officer
The contract of the Community Field Officer, Roselyn Luluomea was terminated on the 6 August 2004 due to under-performance. She was unable to absorb the training provided, and failed to carry out the monitoring of the pest control experiments and awareness campaign to ensure that the project had a fair chance of achieving its objectives. Performance had been noticeable worse during the last 6 months, and in an effort to improve the situation, a more experienced member of the KGA was transferred to Silolo for a month to work with her. This did nothing to change her behaviour. KGA is now in the process of finding a replacement. In the interim the coordinator of the youth livelihoods project in north Malaita, Mr Iro Ramoi, has taken over temporarily.
Testing the sprays
Farmers from Gwou’ulu and Malothawa report that the natural sprays selected by workshop participants for testing against infestations of Nisotra a beetle on sliperi kabis are not effective. Checks were made during the visit to see if this was so. Similarly, the sprays selected at the Gwaiau workshop were investigated to see if any were effective against the planthopper, Tarophagus, the main vector of alomae disease of taro.
Methods
Uka (Derris spp.)
According the local knowledge there are four types of Uka (Derris spp.) in the Silolo area. Two occur commonly near the beach, a third further inland, and a fourth in the forests at distance from the coast. Although all four are effective in killing fish, there are differences, which may be related to the concentration of rotenone in the plant tissues. Two species were tested in trials at Silolo and at Gwou’ulu. Methods of making the sprays from Uka can be found in the Gwaiau and Gwou’ulu workshop reports (Mission 3), and are summarised here.

Root or stem sections, approximately, 60 cm long, and 1.5-2 cm diameter, were crushed using a rock, covered in water and left to soak for 24 h. Afterwards, the extract was strained adjusted to 2 litres with water, and used.

Fuu (Barringtonia sp.)
Two tests were made: first with one and then three seeds grated into one litre water. The mixture was left overnight before it was strained, adjusted to 2 litres with water, and used.

Tobacco (Solanum tobacco)
Five leaves were macerated and placed in water, and left overnight. The mixture was then strained, adjusted to 2 litres with water, and used.

Chili (Capsicum frutescens)
50 red bird’s eye chillies were ground and left overnight in water. The mixture was then strained, adjusted to 2 litres with water, and used.

Furii (species unknown)
The bark of the tree was scraped until there was sufficient to fill a 1kg sugar bag; this was placed in 4 litres water with 50 bird’s eye chillies macerated to a pulp. The mixture was brought to the boil, cooled, strained and used.

Soap was added to all the sprays at a concentration of 10g/2 litres or thereabouts.

The sprays were applied separately to sliperi kabis bushes to thoroughly wet the top and bottom of leaves. Invariably, the beetles fell to the ground. They were then collected (12-20) using an aspirator, and placed, together with two or three shoots, in plastic containers (fruit fly traps) or plastic bags to determine their reaction to the sprays.
The results
The difficulty in the doing the tests at Silolo is apparent: many of the insects escaped from the cages, or plastic bags (Table 1). Whether this was in response to any repellent effect of the sprays is not known.

It seems unlikely that any of the sprays used have insecticidal properties, but there is good reason to retest them. Some deaths occurred where beetles and leaves were sprayed with Fuu, Uka and tobacco. These need to be retested.

In similar tests done at Gwaiau against Tarophagus on 16 August, the following results were recorded after insects and leaves were sprayed and incubated for 24 hours in plastic bags. The numbers given are those collected/alive: tobacco (1), 20/10; Uka, 22/12; Furii, 26/20; tobacco (2), 26/18. Many of the insects perished in the plastic bags, drowning in the sprays. The bags were unsuitable for these tests. These tests, too, need to be repeated.

Table 1. Effects of five sprays made from local products against Nisotra

SPRAYS
No of Nisotra alive after 24 or 48 hours
Location/date Fuu Uka Chilli Tobacco Water Furii
Silolo River
Silolo 12
10/8/04 12 17 12
12/8/04 1* 17

Gwou’ulu†
11/8/04 12
13/8/04 12

Gwou’ulu
12/8/04 15 12
14/8/04 9* (3 dead) 12

Malothawa
13/8/04 15 12
15/8/04 4*
(1 dead) 6*
(4 dead)

Gwaiau
16/8/04 16
17/8/04 15
*escaped; †same mix as that used at Silolo
People’s experiences of the sprays
At Gwou’ulu, one farmer (Samson Nokia) has tried Uka twice. He said that the insects fall to the soil or fly short distances, but after three days they are back again in the same numbers. Some women at Gwou’ulu are so desparate to get some leaves that they are trying to kill the beetles by hand in the early morning, but it seems that this does not prevent damage as the plants are quickly recolonised. At Malothawa, one woman (Helen Konata) reported that she had tried Fuu, but none of the insects died, and another (Leoa) tried chilli with similar results – the insects fell down but were not killed.

Gwou’ulu has formed a woman’s group, which has joined the Plant Material Network to take advantage of the vegetable seeds offered by the organisation. The members are given in Annex 1 (which also includes those attending the meeting in Malothawa).
More research on sprays
There are several spays with potential that can be used against the pests of sliperi kabis and taro, and different ways of formulating them. The tests that have been done so far are inconclusive and need to be repeated. More tests should be done with Fuu, Uka, Furii, chilli and tobacco to determine whether or not they kill or repel Nisotra and Tarophagus. Better containers will be provided so that the tests can be done without the insects escaping.

In addition to repeating the tests done already, the following tests will use chilli and tobacco as soil and leaf sprays.

Chilli as a powder

It is worth testing chilli as a dust in the hope that if Nisotra is breeding on the roots of sliperi kabis, as suspected, the dust spread on the soil surrounding the plants will repel the juveniles, and also the adults.

Dry a large number of chillies, and then grind them to a powder, seeds and all. This needs to be done carefully, and hands should be well washed afterwards. Select a number of sliperi kabis bushes with beetles on them; count and then remove the beetles by shaking the bushes. Sprinkle the dust on the soil around the plants as wide as the widest leaves. Do this on, say, three sliperi kabis plants. Remove the beetles on 1 or 2 checks (but not apply the chilli powder on these bushes). At intervals of 3, 6 and 9 days, count the number of Nisotra on the leaves of treated and check plants (continue if there are differences between treated and check plants). Renew chilli if there is heavy rain.

Tobacco as a leaf and soil treatment

Make the tabacco spray as before, but increase the number of leaves to 6-8 large leaves macerated and left overnight, strain, and then add soap. Choose plants damaged by Nisotra, which have beetles on them. Count and shake to remove the beetles, and then spray the mixture on the soil in a circle around the stems as far as the widest leaves, and also on the leaves, top and bottom. Do this on, say, three sliperi kabis plants, and 1 or 2 checks. Make counts of beetles on the leaves at 3, 6 and 9 days (continue if there are differences between treated and check plants).
Collecting and killing Nisotra: is it possible?
Farmers at the Auki market say that they hand pick the beetles and kill them. This may appear to be a time-consuming method of control, but the beetles are easily collected. At most, they jump, fall to the ground or fly short distances. The question is: can collecting the beetles control infestations?

This method of control should be discussed with farmers at either Malothawa or Gwou’ulu to see if they are interested in trying it out. Some should hand pick and destroy the beetles; others should be given an aspirator to collect the insects daily (which are then destroyed). The farmers should record:

∑ the number of plants
∑ collection dates
∑ the number of insects caught each time

It is important that farmers collect all the beetles from all the sliperi kabis plants in any garden where they are testing the method.
Cultural control of Alomae at Gwaiau
Gwaiau has formed an Alomae Committee. There is great interest in the village to control alomae, and a good understanding of the biology of the main vector, Tarophagus. The Committee has a chairperson (James Ngeobuli), a vice-chair (Simon Toifei), Secretary (Clifton Naumea) and a treasurer (Peter Foakwailiu). In addition, there are four village supervisors to give advice on sprays and other ways of controlling alomae as well as distributing reports of the Committee (Peter Irolanga, Jackson Filiau, Jack Sunatee, Samuel Maeirofia). There are more than 12 members (Annex 2). The agenda for the meeting on the 16 August is provided (Annex 3)

Guidelines for the operation of the Committee were agreed at the meeting (Annex 4). It is important that members share their experiences, recording the number of alomae in their gardens at each session (Table 2).

Table 2. Recording of alomae at monthly Committee meetings

Date of meeting Name of farmer Month garden planted Garden number Number of alomae Number of plants in the garden? What did the farmer do?



Recording information in this way will indicate if the committee members are controlling the disease adequately or whether some members require assistance from others. If alomae gets out of hand in farmers’ gardens it may indicate nearby sources of inoculum need to be removed, or other factors affecting the incidence of disease need attention. Record keeping in this way will improve members’ ability to control the disease.

There is still too much reliance on sprays, or the hope that one or more will be found. If this continues, it could undermine the confidence of the farmers. The disease can be controlled adequately by a) regular monitoring for alomae, b) pulling out and burning diseased plants as soon as they are seen, and c) community action programmes. Even if sprays are effective, they will not control the disease on their own; they will only increase the effectiveness of the cultural control measures (ie pull out and burn).
Watermelon problem at Takwa
Problems at Nanadi
The visit to Takwa and the nearby village of Nanadi was very useful. It showed several aspects of watermelon cultivation where farmers need assistance, namely:

(a) Cultivation practices

∑ Farmers are planting on the same land, twice a year, perhaps for three years consecutively;
∑ Some seedlings are planted with leaves showing signs of fungal infection.

(b) Pest control practices

∑ Farmers do not know the difference between the pesticides and their use: they confuse Orthene with Bravo;
∑ They see one or two caterpillars and spray;
∑ They often neglect the symptoms of fungus, as they are not aware of the cause;
∑ Even when they do identify fungus infections correctly, control measures are applied too late, or not frequently enough;
∑ The amount of Bravo used is too low: the concentration per litre is about one third recommended by the manufacturer, and too little is sprayed per unit area;
∑ The sprayers are old and worn, producing large droplets, and consequently, poor coverage;
∑ Farmers do not know the capacity of their sprayers; for some, the markings are in Chinese, and assumptions of capacity are wrong;
∑ Knowledge of how to spray is poor.

Antonia Angisifone, for instance, planted two crops in 2003, another in March 2004, and the present one in June. There was no intervening crop. In her case, no fungus infections were seen in 2003 until harvest, and the same occurred in the first crop of 2004. Now the fungus is a major problem in the present 6-week old crop, with the first six leaves of most plants affected. She used Orthene last week, and Bravo this week, following the advice of Lawrence Aldo. In one 4-gallon (20 litre) drum, one 10 g pack of Orthene was added. For Bravo, 20 ml was added to the same drum. The recommended amount is 3 ml/litre, so Antonia is adding only a third required. At the farm of John Masinoru, there was great confusion between the two commonly used chemicals. The women tending the watermelon plantation did not know which chemical had been used and for what reason, and a brown liquid in a Bravo container was not what it should have been.

If Bravo is used at 3 ml/litre, and 450 litres water are applied per ha (commonly used high-volume rate), then the rate is 1.35 litres/ha.

If Copper oxychloride is used at a recommended rate of 5g/litre, then the rate is 2.25 kg/ha.

Commonly, farmers plant blocks of 400 watermelons, the amount of seeds in a packet. The area planted is 50 m x 25 m, 0.125 ha (one eighth ha). To cover this area, the amount of Bravo used should be 168 ml in 56 litres water per application. For copper oxychloride, the amount should be 258g per 56 litres per application. The amounts now being applied are not likely to control the disease. In reality, the farmers are wasting their money, as the amounts applied are insufficient to have any effect.
How to improve management of pests and diseases
Varietal testing

It has already been decided to test four new varieties from Known-You, Taiwan. SPC has ordered these, and seed of some of these varieties has already been sent to Solomon Islands. When all have arrived they will be distributed to each of the four villages as decided at the May workshop. What data to collect during the varietal trials is given in Annex 5.

Training in pesticide use

While it may be of interest to try new varieties, to see if any are less susceptible to the disease, the likelihood of success is probably low; thus, testing of new varieties should be combined with training in pesticide application. It was suggested to a member of the Takwa watermelon growers’ committee that a request for support should be sent to DAL/SPC.

Pesticide labelling and size of retail packets

It would help greatly, if the labels were printed in a larger font. Many of the farmers cannot read them. It would help, too, if they were written in Pidgin English.

Another issue is the cost of pesticides. Those available for retail in Honiara come in small size packets, eg 10 g Orthene, 200 ml Brave, 200g copper oxychloride etc. These are more suited to the needs of ‘gardens’, not the commercial operations of farmers. If retailers were assured of sales, they might import larger packs, reducing the unit costs of the products. The watermelon farmers’ committees should investigate the possibilities.

Change to an ‘organic’ approach

There is too much pesticide used, and mostly it is applied incorrectly. The two commonly used pesticides, Orthene and Bravo, should be phased out in favour of those that are permitted under organic registration: eg BT, Bacillus thuringiensis, and copper oxychloride. Tests will be needed to see if these control the caterpillar and fungal leaf blight problems. Samples need to be obtained and tested with farmers during the plantings of 2005.

Email, its use for agriculture
Meetings at Gwou’ulu, Malothawa and Gwaiau on the control of the pests and diseases of concern to the farmers provided an opportunity to explain the background to the project and use of email. Some people, albeit a few, had sent emails to relatives in Honiara and elsewhere and had an understanding of the facility and the way that messages are sent; most did not. It was explained that PestNet and other networks, eg SPC and FAO, could be contacted for any information on agriculture, but particularly for that on pest and diseases. The service is free to users.
Awareness programme in the project area
A programme of visits by the CFO (when recruited) and the Field Officer Malu’u is being planned (Annex 6). These visits are to introduce communities in the project area (Bita’ama to Takwa and as far in land as Gwaiau) to the existence of the email facility at Silolo, and how farmers may use it to obtain information on any aspect of agriculture.

Separate meetings will be held with men and women in the project area to ensure that both groups are provided information on email and its uses in their communities.
Project review
A review of the project, its aims, objectives and progress to date was held at DAL headquarters, Honiara, on 23 August with senior members of the Department present. Technical matters of the watermelon trials, the need for all parties to improve communication via email, and the evaluation of the project before its termination in June 2005, were discussed.
Acknowledgement
We thank the communities of Gwaiau, Gwou’ulu, Malothawa and Takwa for their hospitality in hosting the visits of Grahame Jackson (PestNet) and John Felaka (DAL). Thanks also go to Lucian Konata and family at Silolo for hospitality, kindness, advice and transport arrangements. The Chief Field Officer, Malaita, kindly helped with travel arrangements for one of us (GVHJ) to and from Silolo. We thank infoDev World Bank and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community for funding.
Annex 1

Gwou’ulu Woman’s Group

Luisa Ngalena
Mary Ologa
Koru Makau
Ellam Luke
John Mary Peter
Rachel Bale
Loti John Peter
Helen Kokoto
Palmer Kaelonga
Stephenson Ironi
Kodele Gweirii
Margaret Keumi
John Mary Fale
Ellam Willy
Samson Nokia (Group leader)

Malothawa Group

Helen Konata
Mounasi Danel
Dolena
Bumata
Leoa
Annex 2
Alomae Committee Members

James Ngeobuli, Chairperson
Jack Sunatee
Peter Foakwailiu, Treasurer
Jackson Filiau
Samuel Maeirofia
Michael Momesi
Helen Irolonga
Ruben Iro
Stephen Luiota
Clifton Naumea, Secretary
Hudson Maakwali
Peter Irolonga
Simon Toifei, Vice-Chairperson














Annex 3

Agenda for the Alomae Committee Meeting 16 August 2004

Opening prayer

Report from the Chairman of the last meeting (James Ngeobuli)

Why are we doing this? (John Felaka)

Email, what is means for agriculture (John Felaka)

Guiedlines for the Alomae Committee (Grahame Jackson)

Sprays – how to make them and tests (All)

Any other business (All)

Annex 4
Guidelines of the Alomae Committee

Rule 1
Members will elect a Chairperson and Secretary who will be elected for one year unless re-elected.

Rule 2
The Chairperson will call meetings of the Committee on the last Sunday of each month or at other times if considered necessary.

Rule 3
The Secretary will make a record of the Committee in writing.

Rule 4
The Secretary will send reports of the Committee meetings to the Linking Farmers to Plant Protection Networks project via the email station at Silolo.

Rule 5
Members will attend meetings of the Alomae Committee unless prevented by other urgent business. If necessary, members can ask another person to represent them.

Rule 6
Members have a duty to help each other (and non-members) to control alomae in Gwaiau.

Rule 7
Members agree to share information on alomae in their gardens, and any other information they have about the disease.

Rule 8
Members will make every effort to get other farmers in Gwaiau to join the Alomae Committee.

Rule 9
The Committee will meet and make decisions only when there are at least 5 members present, including the Chairperson and/or Secretary

Rule 10
Decisions made by the Alomae Committee will be agreed by all members present before they come into effect.








Annex 5

Data collection: Takwa watermelon trial

Each farmer must agree to record the following as a pre-condition of taking seed for testing

Variety
∑ Own (number)
∑ Test (number)
Date of nursery
Date seedlings planted
Spacing
∑ In the row
∑ Between the rows
Dates weeding
∑ First
∑ Second
∑ Third

Fertilizer
∑ Date, Type and Quantity
∑ Date, Type and Quantity
∑ Date, Type and Quantity

Sprays
Insect (Date)
1.
2.
3.
Fungicide (Date)
1.
2.
3.

Harvest
Dates (Nos. fruit)
1.
2.
Average weight of fruit

Answer these questions:
1. When did you plant watermelon on the same site last time?
2. Was there a problem the last time they were grown on this site?
3. What was the problem?
4. What did you do about it?

Annex 6

Communities to be visited in the project area


From silo to Malu’u

Diala
Bubutarake
Rebi
Raubabata
A’ama
Kwene/Dararau
Manakwai
Ngalifasi
Kafoasila/Abunabola
Malu’u station

From Malu’u to Bita’ama

Fulifooe
Afufu
Suidara
One
Sikwafata
Buamena
AnokwasiKwaiana
Bita’ama

Those already visited:

Gwaiau
Loina
Magwebaru
Taba
Faufamea