Monday, March 17, 2008 LT's mite breeding becomes international model By Jane Cadalig
LA TRINIDAD'S efforts in rearing predatory mites for strawberries are gaining recognition from other Southeast Asian countries, as Indonesia expressed interest to adopt the town's rearing model.
Strawberry farmers in the town are beneficiaries of the project, which is a partnership with the local government and the Washington State University (WSU) funded through a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAid).
The three-year project, entitled rearing evaluation and release of native predatory mites for biological control of spider mites attacking strawberries in La Trinidad, started 2006 up to 2009.
It aims to develop mass rearing of available predatory mites that should also suit the local farming conditions.
Beverly Gerdeman, one of the experts from WSU, who was tapped to help the local government on the project, reported La Trinidad's efforts in rearing predatory mites are becoming the model for other Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia.
She said there are locally available predatory mites that could be propagated to help address the farmers' problems on spider mites attacks.
Among the most prevalent predatory mites, she said, is the Neoseiulus longispinosus, which were also released to some farms already. These mites eat on the spider mites on strawberries.
Gerdeman said farmers have options of availing the predatory mites. They could either rear the mites themselves or purchase these from the Municipal Agriculture Office.
Dr. Lynell Tanigoshi, an entomologist, also from WSU, dreams of having the whole strawberry plantation in La Trinidad apply the principles of Integrated Pest Management, through the propagation and release of the predator mites. He said he is impressed with how the local farmers care for their fields.
"Unlike in the States, farmers here have an intimacy with their plants because they live near their farms," Tanigoshi said.
