Scientists warn vs.

use of
Pesticides on Coco pest Philippine Daily Inquirer July 06, 2014

MANILA, PhilippinesA group of scientists has
warned against the use of chemical pesticides
containing dinotefuran to control coconut scale
insects (CSI) or cocolisap, which has ravaged over
60 percent of the total coconut farming areas in the
country.

COCONUT trees leaves gradually turn brown due to
insect infestation. EDWIN BACASMAS/INQUIRER
FILE PHOTO
The Agham-Advocates of Science and Technology
for the People cautioned the government against
using chemical methods and other knee-jerk reactions
to combat the CSI aspidiotus rigidus infestation,
which could worsen the damage to the coconut
industry.
Instead of abating the current situation, this step
could further damage our coconut industry, Agham
secretary general and entomologist Finesa Cosico
said.
Cosico was referring particularly to the use of
dinotefuran, which is a pesticide that has been found
harmful to pollinators such as bees. The coconut is a
cross-pollinated type of plant that depends on self-
pollination or pollination by an agent.

Environmental impact
To control the cocolisap infestation, the government
has promoted the use of systemic pesticides, which
could have an adverse environmental impact.
The administration of systemic pesticides to control
CSI must be carefully studied prior to the massive
scale of application to the affected coconut farm
areas. The government must not rely solely on the
use of chemical methods to eliminate CSI, Cosico
said.
More importantly, the promotion of any method
must be embedded in the support that should be given
to the coconut farmers. Ultimately, to increase
agricultural productivity, the focus should be in
increasing the capacity of farmers to combat the
impact of pests, diseases and other environmental
stresses, Cosico said.


Dinotefuran is an active ingredient in neonicotinoid,
a type of pesticide that controls various types of
insect pests. According to the US Environmental
Protection Agency, dinotefuran is highly soluble and
highly mobile, easily leaching to the subsurface, and
is resistant to biodegradation.

Effect on bees
Agham said the most controversial issue in the use of
neonicotinoids is its effect on pollinators, particularly
bees, which could come in direct contact with the
chemical or indirectly ingest it through its residues on
blooming crops.

The exposure of bees to neonicotinoids could result
in colony collapse disorder. The mass disappearance
of pollinators was first observed in the United States
in 2006.
According to Agham, switching to other organic and
biodegradable chemicals is still not an assurance
that it would be safe for the environment and public
health.

The group instead suggested the use of integrated
pest management to control the CSI infestation while
providing immediate relief to affected coconut
farmers.

Cosico said integrated pest management combines
cultural practices and physical methods, such as
pruning and the removal of affected trees as pest
control strategies.

Last resort
The use of synthetic pesticide must be a last resort,
especially in the case of the CSI because of the lethal
effects of dinotefuran to beneficial insects, she said.
The Department of Budget and Management recently
set aside at least P400 million for the six-month scale
insect emergency action program of the Philippine
Coconut Authority after President Aquino signed an
executive order for measures to control the spread of
the cocolisap.

Presidential Assistant for Food Security and
Agricultural Modernization Secretary Francis
Pangilinan has said that over P750 million is needed
for the program, which will be undertaken in three
phases involving the injection of insecticides, pruning
and burning, setting up of a scale insect laboratory
for bio-agents, rehabilitation, surveillance and
quarantine.