What went wrong with sugar apple farming in Southern Batangas? wanted: ecological entomologists

Issue Date

10-2009

Abstract

It has been a micro-economic ruin in the face of the changing climate. The microclimatic regime has not been good for the production of "atis" or sugar apple (Annona squamosa) in the low-lying hills of southern Batangas due to the prolonged summer which makes it difficult to maintain favorable environmental conditions for crop survival. The rain-dependent fruiting of sugar apple - one of the primary income earning crops of mountain farmers - has been delayed in the last five years (2004-2008) due to sporadic rains that then lasted for three to four months during the expected rain months (May-September). Until recently, there was such obvious distress among atis growers because the prolonged summer resulted in mealy bugs (dapulak) outbreak across the mountainous landscape under mono-cropping scheme and where other woody perennials such as coconut have been logged extensively. About 89-90% of all atis plantations were damaged by dapulak resurgence where poor mountain communities are practically helpless.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

23

Issue

2

Page

194-195

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

PSEUDOCOCCIDAE; ANNONA SQUAMOSA; FRUITS; FRUITING; CROP PRODUCTION; PHILIPPINES

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS