1

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock

Solomon Islands Rural Development Program

Component Two

Pest Management Plan

Consultancy Report

Sadanand Lal

December 2010

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Contents

Page

1. Acronyms 4

2. Executive summary 6

3. Recommendations 9

4. Introduction 11

5. Assessment of pest management issues against TOR 13

a. Pest and vector management approaches 13

i. Current and anticipated pest problems, relevant to the project 13

ii. Current and proposed pest management practices 19

iii. Relevant IPM experience within the project area, country or region. 19

iv. Assessment of proposed or current pest management approaches

and recommendations for adjustment where necessary. 20

b. Pesticide use and management 20

i. Review of present, proposed and/or envisaged pesticide use 20

ii. Indication of type and quantity of pesticides envisaged to be

financed by the project and/or assessment of increase in pesticide

use resulting from the project. 25

iii. Circumstances of pesticide use and the capability and competence

of end-users to handle products within acceptable risk margins 26

Selection of pesticides authorized for procurement under the project 26

6. Policy, regulatory Framework and institutional capacity on Pest Management 27

a. Policies on plant protection 27

b. Description and assessment of the national capacity to

develop and implement ecologically-based IPM 28

c. Assessment of the country's regulatory framework for

control of the distribution and use of pesticides. 28

d. Assessment of the institutional capacity for effective

control of the distribution and use of pesticides 29

7. Monitoring and evaluation 30

8. Pest management action plan 31

a. Pesticide Management 31

i. Pesticide Regulation 31

ii. Pesticide Registration Advisory Committee (PRAC) 31

iii. Liaison with Customs 32

iv. Enforcement - Appointment of Pesticides Inspectors 32

v. Residue analysis 33

vi. Revision of the pesticide regulation 33

vii. Evaluation of new and selective pesticides 33

viii. Capacity Development 33

ix. Train-the–trainer workshop 33

x. Farmer trainings 34

b. Development of IPM policy 34

c. Cocoa Pod Borer 35

d. Giant African Snail 36

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e. Demonstration of Taro Beetle Management Package 37

f. Development and implementation of IPM in Rice 37

g. Development and Implementation of IPM strategies on vegetable

crops where pesticides are used 38

h. To develop and demonstrate effective integrated approaches to slippery

Kabis IPM 39

i. To develop and implement IPM in sustainable production systems

of cabbages 39

j. To develop and implement IPM strategies in sustainable

production of watermelons and other cucurbits 41

k. Coconut leaf miner 41

l. Yellow crazy ant 41

9. Objectives and outputs table 43

10. Proposed schedule of activities 47

11. Acknowledgments 52

12. Appendices 53

Appendix 1: Field Visit Reports of the 4 RDP Provinces 53

Appendix 2: TOR 72

Appendix 3: SI Pesticide regulation attached

Appendix: List of registered pesticides in SI (until 1988) attached

Tables

Table 1: List of pesticides and their uses on crops in SI 21

Table 2: List of WHO classification of commercial formulations of pesticides

available in SI. 23

Table 3: List of pesticides that may need to be purchased by RDP – this is an

indicative list only 25

Table 4: Objectives and outputs 43

Table 5: Proposed schedule of activities for pesticide registration process 47

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1. Acronyms used in the document

ACIAR - Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

APSD - Asia Pacific Sustainable Development

BC - Biological Control

BT - Bacillus thuringiensis

CFO - Chief Field Officer

CLIP - Cocoa Livelihoods Improvement Project

CPB - Cocoa Pod Borer

CSP - Community Sector Programme

DBM - Diamond Back Moth

DBRTC - Don Bosco Rural Training Centre

ERP - Emergency Response Plan

FO - Field Officer

GAS - Giant African Snail

GFFS - Gwaunafiu Farmer Field School

GPPOL - Guadalcanal Plain Palm Oil Limited

KGA - Kastom Gaden Association

IPDM - Integrated Pest & Disease Management

IPM - Integrated Pest Management

IPPSI - Improved Plant Protection in Solomon Islands

LCM - Large Cabbage Moth

MAL - Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock

MP - Malaita Province

NRRDP - National Rural Rice Development Programme

PFO - Principal Field Officer

PRAC - Pesticide Registration Advisory Committee

PRO - Principal Research Officer

PS - Permanent Secretary

RDP - Rural Development Programme

ROC - Republic of China

SCI - Santa Cruz Island

SRI - Systems of Rice Intensification

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SIG - Solomon Island Government

SPC - Secretariat of the Pacific Community

TB - Taro Beetle

TTM - Taiwan Technical Mission

WB - World Bank

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2. Executive Summary

The Pest Management Specialist (PMS), whose term of reference is attached as Appendix 2,

began his 3 month work from 13 September to 15 December 2010, at Rural Development

Programme (RDP), Component 2 attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL)

headquarters (HQ) in Honiara. This report is prepared in consultation with MAL staff at

headquarters, field staff in the provinces, other relevant organisations in the agricultural sector, a

number of Non Government Organisations (NGOs), Pesticides dealers, and farmers. Series of

meetings and discussions were held with MAL staff, particularly extension, research and

quarantine, including visits to farms in Honiara and the provinces, pesticide retailers and

agricultural project personnel (Appendix 1). PMS also used his experiences and background of

pest management in the Pacific and past visits and work in the Solomon Islands (SI) as an

entomologist for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

During the course of the work, the PMS has made assessment of pest management and pesticides

used in SI with reference to the Terms of Reference and therefore the findings, information and

views expressed are purely objective. This consultancy report is written and provided purely for

the purpose of consultancy work commissioned by the World Bank and based on the TOR.

Pest Management Approaches

Farming can be classified into 3 categories:

Subsistence farming where farmers grow crops for their family or share within a

community and these are mostly located in the rural areas

Semi-commercial farmers who grow crops for their family but also sell their produce in

local markets and they are mostly located near Taro, Gizo, Munda, Lata, Auki and

Honiara

Commercial farmers grow crops mainly for selling and these farms are located in Central

Malaita and Honiara.

There are no specialist farmers who grow specific type of crops for sale. However, at Kakara in

Malaita some farmers grow only watermelons along with other crops for consumption and sale.

The commercial farms are located in Honiara and Auki, some of which are under intensive

cultivation with restricted farming areas.

Pest management approaches at these 3 levels differ a lot. Subsistence farms do not use any

interventions, but of lately Plant Derived Pesticides (PDPs) have been demonstrated under the

Improved Plant Protection in Solomon Islands (IPPSI) project. Prior to this pest and crop

management was done mainly through crop rotation or shift cultivation. At semi-commercial

level pest interventions are not regular features but farmers who have access to pesticides will

use them. At commercial level most of the farmers use pesticides and some are totally dependent

on them. In many cases farmers discontinue growing crops on which they cannot control pests.

Currently there are no Integrated Pest Management (IPM) using Farmer Field Schools (FFS) in

practice although field staffs often make reference to these terms. These terms are mis-

understood and wrongly interpreted. There are hardly any active participatory approaches of pest

management at farmer level.

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Therefore, active participatory approaches with establishment of FFS and IPM strategies need to

be developed and implemented for intensive cropping systems. Such programmes are necessary

to empower the farmers so that correct intervention decisions are made to manage the pest

problems that are ecologically -based.

Pesticide use and management

Farms under intensive cultivation located in Honiara and Auki use pesticides regularly for

control of pests. Prophylactic uses are common on cash crops such as slippery kabis (Slippery

Cabbage), Chinese and ball cabbages, watermelons and beans. All available pesticides in use are

broad-spectrum and they are over-used. They come in ready to use packages with overseas

labels. It is envisaged that pesticides will feature more commonly as the produce demands

increase with increasing urban and peri-urban populations.

Pesticide legislation was enacted in 1982, but no pesticide registration has been done after 1988.

The governing body, Pesticide Registration Advisory Committee (PRAC), which makes

recommendations and advises the Registrar on Pesticide Registration matters, is inactive

therefore no pesticide registration is conducted. Some efforts are being made to reactivate

PRAC.

It is highly recommended that PRAC be activated immediately so that pesticide

registration can be facilitated to control pesticide imports, distribution, sale and use in SI.

Enforcement of the regulation also must be activated by appointment of trained Pesticide

Inspectors appointed from the existing MAL staff.

Policy, regulatory framework and institutional capacity

There is no policy for promotion of integrated pest management (IPM), however recently a

policy on organic agriculture was developed and activated. MAL has an extension policy under

which it operates and makes its annual work plan.

IPM policy must be developed and implemented so that pest management interventions,

especially use of pesticides can be better regulated preceded by establishment of IPM committee.

IPM committee will then draft the IPM policy for action.

Strengthening of national capacities in pest management

Field staff and farmers lack knowledge on pest management. They are also under resourced with

simple pest management tools, although to some extent these have been provided under the

IPPSI and other projects. Appropriate field training needs to be strengthened to overcome pest

management impediments.

Monitoring and evaluation

It is envisaged that with the activation of pesticide legislation and development of IPM policy

will assist in monitoring and evaluation capacities. Appropriate training at field levels will enable

them to carry out their advisory roles efficiently.

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Budget

This proposed plan does not include the budget as it is understood that pest management plans

will be absorbed in the annual work plans of the provinces.

However, extra budgetary provision should be made for purchases of IPM pesticides for

demonstration and experiments, pest management training programmes, pesticide legislation

activities and for pest management adviser as necessary.

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3. Recommendations

Pesticide Management

It is recommended:

1. That the Pesticide Registration Advisory Committee (PRAC) be immediately

established under the current ‘Safety at Work (Pesticide) Regulations Legal Notice No.

60 of 1982’.

2. That MAL PS, as the Chairperson, and Director of Research, as the Registrar of

Pesticides, under this Regulation Clause No. 3 (1), consult respective Ministries for

appointment of representatives to PRAC. The list is to be submitted to the Minister for

endorsement and gazetting.

3. That all pesticides in Solomon Islands be registered. Amnesty period of 3-6 months be

given to companies to act on this.

4. That Pesticide Inspectors from MAL staff be trained and appointed to carry out the

enforcement of the Pesticide Regulations.

5. That appropriate training is conducted on pesticide regulations so that officers are fully

conversant with the requirements of the current Regulations in performing their duties.

6. That the current Pesticides Regulations be revised and replaced with new ‘Pesticide Law’

to improve the functions of pesticide legislation and bring in better control on import,

distribution, handling, sale and safe use of pesticides.

Pest Management

It is recommended:

1. That participatory demonstration of the Taro Beetle Management practice developed by

SPC taro beetle management project funded by ACIAR be carried out in each Province

2. That IPM package of practice is developed for rice, slippery kabis, Chinese and ball

cabbages, beans watermelons and other crops where pesticides are used.

3. That train-the-trainer programme on running of farmer field school be organised for each

target cropping system

4. That basic pest management training for the field staff in each province be conducted on

pests and beneficial species identification (including weeds), symptoms of damage, crop

and soil management, appropriate interventions, safe use of pesticides (formulations,

handling while mixing and applications, rates and frequency of applications).

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5. That a National IPM committee be established to work on developing IPM policy and to

represent on relevant committees such as PRAC and have voice on IPM matters.

6. That RDP purchases small quantities of recommended pesticides as in Table 3 (page 25)

for field demonstrations and experiments. The Registrar may approve these purchases

and imports from reputable sources where they are registered for use such as in Australia,

New Zealand or Fiji.

Further Inputs of PMS as may be necessary

It is recommended:

1. That PMS be initially contracted for 6 months at 2 monthly intervals spread over a period

of 1 year to assist in the pesticides management as follows:

a. First 2 months - to work with the Chairman (PS MAL) and Registrar of Pesticides

(Director of Research) on pesticide registration processes:

i. Appointments and activation of the Pesticide Registration Advisory Committee

ii. Registration and preparation of inventories of all pesticides in SI

iii. Establish liaison with Customs and licensing board on importation of pesticides.

iv. Appointment and training of Pesticide Inspectors

v. Suggestions for revision of the pesticide regulation No. 60.

vi. Training on pesticide sale and safe use to pesticide retailers, field staff and farmers.

2. That PMS continues to provide monitoring, evaluation, surveillance and support to the

MAL staff for further 6 months until the whole system is well established and running

self sufficiently.

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4. Introduction

Solomon Island (SI) has a population of a 515,000 (2009 census) of which over 80% are

involved in agriculture. Total land area of 27,900 Km2 of which only about 3% is used for

agriculture and devoted to arable and permanent crops. Apart from Guadalcanal plains, most of

the land is mountainous with pockets of undulating hills and flat lands in various locations,

where most of agricultural activities take place.

Coconut, oil palm and cocoa are major permanent crops and form major agricultural exports,

although forestry and fisheries supersede them. Rice, slippery kabis, Chinese cabbage, sweet

potato, taro, yam, pawpaw, beans, watermelons, cucumber, spring onion, pepper and few of the

local vegetables are cultivated for subsistence and income generation.

SI although is still free from many injurious pests, do have few very destructive ones, and now

the risks of new introductions are increasing with increase in traffic flow and frequently traveling

of people, within and outside the region. The increasing populations and rising standard of

living demand an intensification of agriculture in order to obtain higher yields per area of land.

This often leads to monoculture conditions which magnify the soil nutrients and pest problems;

therefore, inputs for soil fertility and pest control measures have become very important. The

move from traditional farming has required interventions and adoption of new techniques of

farming. Where once pest control measures were purely based on cultural, physical or natural

means is now using chemicals. The continuous growing of same crops in same land has also

significantly increase demand for high use of chemical fertilizers. As a result, the first option for

soil fertility and pest control are the use of chemicals. When farmers or extension officers noted

the presence of a pest, the first question asked for pest control is usually: ‘what pesticide must I

use?’ The primary concern by both farmers and extension officers are always about the most

effective pesticides available for controlling pest infestations.

Number of small holder commercial vegetable and root crop farms is located and increasing in

numbers around Honiara and Auki meeting the demands of growing urban and peri-urban

populations in these areas. The cropping systems do not vary much. All do mix cropping. There

are no farms or farmers who grow only one crop, but few farmers at Kakara in Malaita can be

classified as specialist watermelon farmers, who grow them entirely for sale, but will also grow

other crops for family use and sell the surplus together with watermelons. In Honiara and Auki,

farms nearer to the town centres do intensive farming due to restricted farming area. In such

areas, although crops are rotated, they are grown continuously, with limited fallow periods or in

some cases no fallows at all. In the outer peripheries, where farms are larger in size, cropped

areas can be left fallow after each crop and for longer periods. Some farmers who have plenty of

land area shift their crops to new areas every season. In all cases taro is always shifted to new

areas or into virgin land due the problem of taro beetle infestation. In the peri-urban farms agro-

inputs of fertilizers and pesticides are commonly used.

Insects are the major pests and evenly distributed all year round while fungal diseases are

sporadic, but can cause huge problem especially after heavy rains. Few of the bacterial diseases

occasionally cause severe losses of crops, mostly as post-harvest problems. Nematodes are

known to exist, but these are not considered as pests although heavy losses could occur from

their infections as on taro in Rennel. Most of the farms also suffer from weeds, although their

adversities are not measured.

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Farmers around Honiara and Auki use available pesticides, mostly insecticides, from the local

pesticide retailers on a regular basis. However, the range of pesticides available in SI is limited

and their usage usually fails to control the targeted pests. Therefore, farmers struggle to manage

the crop pests and heavy losses of crops occur.

In the outer provinces, although the crops significantly suffer from pests, pesticides are hardly

used. There are no pesticide outlets, other than the health services malaria vector control unit,

which provides icon (Lambda-Cyhalothrin) for mosquito control. In the outer provinces pest

control is mostly dependent on crop rotation, shift cultivation (for control of taro beetle) and

recently in some cases use of PDPs on vegetables. Organic agriculture using composts, PDPs and

other locally available products, crop rotation, physical and other non chemical methods are

promoted to farming communities by some of the established NGOs such as Kastom Gaden

Association (KGA), Gwaunafiu Farmer Field School (GFFS), Asia Pacific Sustainable

Development (APSD) and others. Alongside MAL also promotes and emphasizes on good crop

health and non-chemical methods of crop production. Despite all these it is difficult to quantify

organic production or separate them from the subsistence farm systems.

In many of the rural and remote areas farmers have not used pesticides. Farmers were given

pesticides for pest control on rice. Malaria control pesticides are available at most of the medical

centres. Many farmers who know the benefits of pesticides use them on their crops and obtain

from any source.

This report addresses the issues as in the PMS TOR from visits to the project provinces,

consultations with MAL field staff, farmers and other relevant stakeholders.

The outcomes against TOR are briefly discussed.

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5. Assessment of Pest Management Issues against the TOR

a. Pest or Vector Management Approaches

i. Current and anticipated pest problems, relevant to the project

In the 4 provinces, Choiseul, Western, Temotu and Malaita, where RDP is currently involved in

improving the service deliveries to the rural communities; there are a number of pest problems

(insects, mites, diseases, weeds, mollusks, rodents and vectors of diseases) which hinder crop

development and production. Insect and mite pests are problem all year round, while diseases

can be seasonal or in some cases continuous problem to crops. As usual of tropical agriculture,

weeds are mostly underestimated as pests. Incursions of Giant African Snail (GAS) in Honiara

and crazy ant on Reef Island now pose added new pest problems and bring in extra burden to

pest management approaches. There is a risk of these two pests escaping to other islands in SI

and anticipated to cause more problems to farmers and agricultural development. Cocoa pod

borer (CPB), which is now present in Bougainville, is looming to get into SI, especially to the

neighbouring regions, Shortland and Choiseul, if precautionary steps are not taken to prevent its

introduction. Cyclic outbreaks of pests, like the coconut leaf miner on Santa Cruz keep occurring

and needs constant attention. Rodents are a problem in weedy fields and where farm sanitation is

neglected.

As majority of the Solomon Islanders live in rural areas, their livelihoods are dependent on

agricultural activities. Pests cause lot of problems and are one of the major constraints to food

production and household incomes from agriculture. Due to pests like taro beetle which has no

control measures, many farmers have lost interest in growing taro. Where taro once used to be a

staple food, it has now been substituted by white rice imported from overseas.

Addressing pest management issues are equally important to other service deliveries at all levels

of agricultural activities. Therefore, it is important that RDP work programme must include

appropriate pest management activities in its annual work plans to improve services to farmers

for food production and income generation.

The following crops are economically important at subsistence, semi-subsistence and

commercial farming systems.

The following briefly discusses the current and anticipated future impact of the pests on each of

these crops:

1) Rice

Rice has been grown in SI for many years and once it used to be commercially produced in the

Guadalcanal Plains. The Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) has been in

SI for over 25 years promoting small-holder and commercial rice production systems. TTM in its

rice development programme supplied pesticides, fertilizers and other farm inputs, and installed

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rice mills for rice communities at different locations all over SI. SI government under the

National Rural Rice Development Programme (NRRDP) is encouraging rice production for

subsistence and income generation for the rural farming communities. Several rice varieties

imported from Philippines are currently undergoing screening tests on their performance in

Temotu, Malaita, Isabel, Western and Central provinces. Under NRRDP a workshop on System

of Rice Intensification (SRI) has recently been conducted for the rice field officers and farmers.

SRI which works very well in established production systems in Indonesia may also work for

smallholder rice farmers in SI. However, rice production systems in these 2 countries differ a lot.

Indonesia rice production systems are well developed with proper irrigation and mostly on flat

lands compared to SI rice farms mostly are upland and rainfed. The basic requirements of rice

farming are water and good land preparation. Inception of such programmes must take cohesive

approaches so that they are fully utilised.

Overall farmer interest in rice cultivation has declined and many of the rice mills are standstill

because of no supply of paddy and probably lack of other resources to run the mills? Comments

from field staff suggest that rice farmers have relied on supply of inputs such as pesticides for

pest control. About 3 hectares of rice could not be harvested by Fiu rice farmers in Auki due to

BPH burns despite spraying with Orthene every week as advised. This discouraged Fiu farmers

association to grow any more rice and switch to vegetable and other crops.

Current control measures for rice pests rely exclusively on prophylactic insecticide applications

which cause serious economic and environmental problems. The composition of rice pests and

their natural enemies in rice fields in SI is inadequately known. If there are natural enemies then

the continued excessive use of broad-spectrum insecticides create an inappropriate environment

for the establishment of biological control agents. Both field staff and farmers are unacquainted

with the concepts and benefits of IPM. Inadequate understanding by the field staff and farmers of

the prescriptive rice IPM packages and a lack of understanding of the specific pest-natural enemy

complexes and use of ineffective insecticide cause crop failures.

The inadequacies of rice pest management must be developed and implemented for success of

the rice programmes at all levels. The government’s focus on rice expansion must address the

ways to reduce pest problems in integrated pest management approaches. Widespread successes

of IPM adoption for rice in Asia indicate that rice is a crop with considerable potential for the

development and adoption of IPM in SI. There are strong drivers for change and that a

participatory approach would be appropriate for rice in SI. There are many experienced master

trainers in Asia who could potentially run train-the-trainer programmes for farmer field schools

for adoption of IPM in rice in SI.

2) Slippery kabis or aibika or bele (Abelmoschus manihot)

This is the most common green leafy vegetable in Honiara and the other markets around the

country. The flea beetle (Nisotra basellae) is most serious pest which perforates leaves and

makes them unmarketable. In some places flea beetle damage is so high that farmers have

stopped growing the crop. Shoot borer (Earias vitella) caterpillars feed inside the shoot stems

which cause wilting and death of plant under rainy conditions. It also attacks other related plant

species such as hibiscus, okra, cotton and occasionally on tomatoes.

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In Auki and Honiara where insecticides are available farmers heavily rely on these for control of

both insects. Bioagents of the flea beetle is not known. There are a few bioagents of the shoot

borer and if the insecticides are used judiciously then they will have better chance of exerting in

enough control. Early detection of pest infestations and removing of damage tips may greatly

contribute towards shoot borer management. Slippery kabis under shady conditions do not attract

too much damage from the flea beetle.

There is good opportunity to develop IPM programme for slippery kabis with better

understanding of the flea pest from PhD research at Queensland University by SI entomologist.

3) Chinese and ball (head) cabbages

Both, Chinese and ball cabbages are attacked by diamondback moth (DBM), large cabbage moth

(LCM), cluster caterpillar (CCP), and occasionally by centre grub. Chinese cabbage is second

most important leaf vegetable in SI and is usually sprayed with Orthene and Karate for control

of the pests in Honiara and Auki. Chinese cabbages are harvested early to avoid insect damages.

Ball cabbages are rarely seen in the markets in SI, but whatever is sold are of low quality and

very expensive. Severe insect damages have discouraged farmers in growing of ball cabbage. No

studies have been done to assess or understand the presence of the nature of the cabbage pests

and their composition.

Chinese and ball cabbages have great potential to develop IPM by utilising the outputs of the

ACIAR funded ‘Integrated pest management in a sustainable production system for Brassica

crops in Fiji and Samoa’. This project carried out studies on better understand the cabbage pest -

natural enemy complexes; avoidance of prophylactic uses of broad-spectrum insecticides and

development and implementation of FFS.

4) Watercress

Watercress is grown on water rafts in the Mamara creek near Honiara and often is attacked by

DBM, LCM and CCP. Karate, Orthene and presumably other insecticides are often used for the

control of these pests. Cultural practice such as submerging of the water rafts may be used to

reduce the pest population, this, however, needs to be adequately tested before

recommendations can be made.

MAL entomologist has planned to conduct this study and has forwarded requests to RDP for

resources.

5) Taro

Taro beetle (TB) is the major constraint of taro production in SI. On Santa Cruz taro farmers are

using the SPC recommended insecticide imidacloprid and comparatively producing good taro.

The farmers on Santa Cruz, however, have not fully adopted the practice as recommended by

SPC. The farmers are not clear on the rates and frequency of applications, safety and alternating

applications of imidacloprid and bifenthrin.

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The technology on use of the insecticides against TB is not fully grasped, therefore, posing

problem resistance development and other pesticide related problems. It is highly recommended

that the use of insecticides, imidacloprid and bifenthrin, be fully demonstrated to taro grower in

active participatory approach in sustainable taro production system.

6) Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes have a number of insects such as leaf eating beetle (Monolepta semiviolacea),

tortoise beetle (Cassida papuana), hornworm (Agrius convolvuli), leaf folder (Herpetogramma

hipponalis) and sweet potato weevil (Cylas formicarius) infestations. Few natural enemies keep

these insects under control. Market gardeners especially in the Burns Creek area spray

insecticides. Among the diseases, sweet potato scab is most common. Sweet potato scab disease

resistant varieties in rotation with other crops are encouraged to avoid severe losses of yields.

7) Beans

Yard long beans common vegetable and cash crop to many farmers in Honiara and other markets

in SI. The bean pod-sucking bug (Riptortus serripes) is the most serious pest which sucks out

young developing pods. In Honiara insecticides Orthene and karate are often sprayed to control

the pest. Lipstick plant (Bixa sp.) is suggested to attract the pod sucking bug and leave the beans

and seems few famers in Malaita are using this plant to manage the sucking bug. Mulching may

also help in management of these bugs.

Bean pod borer (Maruca vitrata) cause extensive damage to developing pods and make them

unmarketable. Insecticides like Orthene etc are used, but timing of application is important in

order to be effective.

Beans are often infested with leafminer (Liriomyza sp.) and are sprayed with insecticides.

Leafminers are usually problem in fields which are sprayed with insecticides killing natural

enemies, which if undisturbed keep the pest under control. Bean rust (Uromyces sp.) is common

disease on bean leaves which cause leaves to fall therefore reducing production. Protectant

fungicides such as Borrek (Chlorothalonil) or axiom (Mancozeb) are used for the control of the

rust.

There are a number of options for management of bean pests available which provide ideal

opportunity to develop IPM approaches.

8) Cucurbits

Cucurbits (water melon, pumpkin, cucumber, lufa) are commonly attacked by insect pests such

as pumpkin beetle (Aulacophora similis) and cucumber moth (Diaphania indica) with occasional

infestations of aphids, ladybird beetle, mites and leafminers can be experienced. Orthene and

other cheaper insecticides available are used in Honiara and Malaita.

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Gummy stem blight (Didymella bryoniae) and powdery mildew (Erysiphe cicharacearum) are

usually sprayed with Borrek or axiom.

Fruitflies which have data on should be mentioned. Presence of fruitflies is a hindrance to fruits

vegetable export and loss in food security and income.

9) Oil Palm

Oil palm plantation is a private enterprise owned and operated by the Guadalcanal Plains Palm

Oil Limited (GPPOL) which is the largest user of herbicides in SI. Only 2 herbicides, Paraquat

and Glyphosate, are used at the plantations to manage weeds. GPPOL has an organized use of

herbicides with facilities for storing, mixing and washing room for the pesticide applicators.

According to the Plantation Manager, use of Paraquat will be phasing out soon and only

Glyphosate will be used with alternative methods of weed management such as planting of

legumes to smother weeds and to improve soil fertility in the plantations. Application of the

herbicides is mostly carried out by women. It was noted that women sprayed Paraquat, but did

not have the protective clothing on them, although they were provided by the company. It

appears that the importance of the protective clothing is not well understood by the people;

therefore, it is recommended that training programmes are conducted on the importance of

pesticide safety and self protection when handling pesticides. Paraquat is a toxic pesticide and

appropriate safety procedures should be in place on its use.

10) Cocoa

Cocoa industry in SI is currently supported by Australian Government for the Cocoa Livelihoods

Improvement Project (CLIP). The project is supporting MAL’s aim to increase cocoa production

through better management of old and neglected plantations and improvements on post harvest

processing. Increased cocoa production will raise village family incomes and welfare of the rural

communities. CLIP is working closely with Commodity Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) to

improve SI cocoa quality to the requirements of the international markets so as to maximize

benefits from cocoa production. Cocoa black pod disease is a major pest and fungicide copper

oxychloride is used for its control. CLIP has an Integrated Pest and Disease Management

(IPDM) programme in operation with emphasis on proper plantation management and field

sanitation, which reduced the incidences of cocoa black pod disease, thereby successfully

reducing the use of fungicides. IPDM in cocoa is a good example of holistic and participatory

approaches of crop pest management.

11) Giant African Snail (GAS)

GAS has recently invaded Honiara. Upon its interception at the Ranadi industrial area, MAL’s

quarantine services put up containment measures for eradication of the pest. Blitzem pellet was

applied to the infested area and all stages of GAS were collected and destroyed under the

supervision of quarantine. Despite these efforts, GAS is breeding prolifically and is spreading in

most of the urban and peri-urban areas of Honiara. Its spread into inaccessible areas makes more

18

difficult to reach, hence difficult for physical collections and application of Blitzem pellets. In its

current situation it is difficult to eradicate the pest. Therefore, the plan of action from eradication

should now be changed to management and taking appropriate actions to reduce the pest

population so that the risk of it spreading to other provinces is reduced.

It is vital that a holistic approach using physical, cultural, chemical and natural methods are

developed to curtail prolific breeding and further spreading. A dossier on GAS should be

produced with full information on its identification and diagnosis of damages, biology, ecology

and approaches of control methods, and other relevant information. Lack of adequate resource

through submissions was made to various external organization such as FAO, SPC, and SIG with

no response. Continues wet weather also assisted in their natural spread.

12) Coconut leaf miner Promecotheca spp.

The coconut leaf miner (CLM) is a serious pest of coconuts which has cyclic outbreaks reducing

production. Recent outbreak of the pest on Santa Cruz Island (SCI) was in 2007 and bedraggled

appearance of the coconut palms caused alarms amongst the communities. Previous studies have

shown that there are natural enemies present on SCI. The natural enemies were recently collected

by SPC and the parasitoid was identified as Pediobus parvulus, known to keep the pest under

control in the Pacific islands where it is present. On visit to SCI, it was found that the infested

coconut palms were recovering. It seems that the parasitoid is slowly coming back and

contributing towards the reduction in populations of the pest.

It is recommended that the CLM situation of SCI be monitored on a six monthly intervals. A

long term study on the cyclic outbreaks of the pest needs to be studied thoroughly to overcome

the pest problem.

13) The Yellow Crazy Ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes

The yellow crazy ant has been introduced across the tropics as a byproduct of human commerce.

It is capable of invading both disturbed and undisturbed habitats, including tropical urban areas,

plantations, grassland, savanna, woodland, and rainforest. The Invasive Species Specialist Group

has identified the ant as among 100 of the “World worst” invaders. Thus, any invasion by this

ant species may have large, catastrophic consequences. Such impacts include decimation and

rapid degradation of endemics and communities and possible radical disruption of ecosystems.

Dispersal and invasion pathways to new locations by these ants are via translocation in

packaging material, shipments of produce, timber, dunnage, plants and pallets, etc.

At present the ant is located on the Reef Islands only, but has potential to spread to other places

in SI. It is vital that measures must be taken to reduce the populations so as to reduce the risk of

further spread. Visit to Reef Island was not possible; therefore, it is difficult to gauge the

magnitude of the ant problem. However, quarantine and other measures are essential to address

the ant problem on the Reef Island. Chemical and ant bait were used to control and containment

purpose. Lack of resources is also affecting progress. Bait has to be imported from Australia.

19

ii. Current and proposed pest management practices

The current practices at the 3 different levels of farming vary.

- At subsistence level, farmers hardly use any pest management interventions and largely are

dependent on crop rotations, shift cultivation, or use of resistant varieties recommended by

MAL e.g., resistant sweet potatoes varieties against the sweet potato scab disease or yam

varieties against the anthracnose disease. Although the resistant varieties may not be

favoured by the communities, there is no choice but to grow them. Despite significant losses

of crops, subsistence farmers do not use pesticides because they are either not available in

the rural areas or not affordable.

- Semi-commercial farmers who grow crops both for their use and sale, often do not use any

pesticides, but are dependent on cultural practices of pest management. Some of these

farmers do use pesticides, which they can afford to buy from their crop sales.

- Commercial farmers are largely dependent on pesticides for pest control and often

applications are on weekly basis or in some cases more regularly. Farmers, who cannot

control pests on crops stop growing those crops.

There are a number of non government organisations (NGOs), such as Kastom Gaden

Association (KGA), Asia Pacific Sustainable Development (APSD), Gwaunafiu Farmer Field

School (GFFS), and others who are involved in organic agriculture. These organisations get

small grants from donors and programmes for promotion of organic farming, through outreaches

and training programmes. These and other relevant NGOs are very vocal on organic agriculture

movements and as a result recently organic agriculture policy was formulated and implemented.

Generally speaking all subsistence farming can be put into organic farming. In the rural

communities farming practices pesticides never featured before expansion of rice programmes to

such places.

NGOs do, however, realize that organic methods of agriculture are not entirely possible with

farming practices where pests are continuously causing problems under intensive cultivation. In

such places a more realistic integrated approaches such as IPM is necessary. Therefore, for the

future IPM developments and implementations should take place to overcome the current mis-

uses of pesticides.

iii. Relevant IPM experience within the project area, country or region.

In the 4 RDP project provinces visited there was no active IPM programme in operation. Field

staffs, however, are aware of IPM and FFS. Although there were several FFS establishments,

especially for rice programmes, these, however, were limited to farmer field days only. Some of

the senior and experienced staff have been involved in IPM activities but no active IPM

programmes have been implemented. IPM and FFS terms are misunderstood and wrongly

interpreted on most occasions.

20

iv. Assessment of proposed or current pest management approaches, and

recommendations for adjustment where necessary.

Impressions from field visits were that as a rule, the first option for pest control in all areas

visited appeared to be chemical control even in the outer regions. When farmers or

extension officers noted the presence of a pest, the first question asked was: ‘what

insecticide must I use?’ This was particularly noticeable in Honiara and Auki areas. The

primary concern by both farmers and extension officers was always about the most

effective insecticide available for controlling pest outbreaks.

Interviews with several farmers revealed that none of them practiced IPM methods. In

Honiara and Auki all who used pesticides applied them on a “calendar system” without

first scouting their crops properly for the presence of pests or appreciated the need for

assessing economic threshold levels.

It is recommended that field staff capacities be developed in pest management. The

training workshops must be conducted in each province so that the staffs are familiar with

the pests and their symptoms of damage in their regions. The training must include all

pests i.e. insects, diseases, weeds, rodents; also on introduced and naturally occurring

natural enemies etc. and their appropriate interventions. The Crop protection Manual

developed by IPPSI project and MAL fact sheets on pests is a good start, but they need to

include weeds and pesticide management aspects to make complete teaching aid. There

were biological control agents being released in the past for weeds and insect pests.

There are alternatives already been explored apart from Chemicals, impact assessment

needs to be done.

b. Pesticide Use and Management

i. Review of present, proposed and/or envisaged pesticide use.

Agricultural development and transboundary measurements need interventions such as use of

pesticides. A developing country like SI needs a determined, focused and continuous effort to

increase food production. Therefore, judicious uses of pesticides play an important role in

improvement of agricultural services and sustainable management in improving livelihoods of

the rural communities.

The current usages of pesticides are mostly restricted to commercial farms under intensive

cultivation in Honiara and Auki. There are no or very limited usage of pesticides in the outer

provinces although crops face heavy losses from pests. This is so because pesticides are not

available in the outer provinces or are unaffordable. Farmers who are desperate to use pesticides

in the outer provinces obtain them from Honiara. Few farmers also use icon, the insecticide used

for control of mosquitoes and supplied by the vector control unit of Government Health Services.

21

The intensification of agricultural production systems, especially around Honiara and Auki, there

will be increased usage of pesticides for food production to meet the growing demands from the

urban and peri-urban populations.

Compile a list of pesticides in use in the country and the crops for which they are used.

There are three major sources of pesticides: Island Enterprise Limited is local hardware company

which sells pesticide imported from New Zealand, Australia and PNG; Farmset Limited is a

PNG hardware business and get most of the pesticides from its parent company in PNG, it also is

the main supplier of pesticide to GPPOL; TTM also imports a range of pesticides from Taiwan

and sells to farmers together with vegetable and other seeds. All pesticides imported are ready-

to-use formulations, packed and labelled from overseas. Vector control against malaria is

undertaken by Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), generally using icon

(Lambda-cyhalothrin) and Permethrin for impregnating bed nets. MOH also uses Malathion for

control of dengue fever mosquitoes. Listed below are the common pesticides available in SI and

their uses on crops.

Table 1: List of pesticides and their uses on crops in SI

Pesticide

formulations

Crops on which

they are used

Pests on which they are

used

Remarks

Insecticides Abamectin

0.15%EC

Beans, Cabbages,

Watermelons

Aphids, Whiteflies, mites Abamectin is gram positive

branching bacteria,

Streptomyces avermitilis

Carbaryl Watermelons,

slippery kabis, rice

Flea beetles, pumpkin

beetle, and other insects

TTM sells this to

watermelon growers for

control of the pumpkin

beetle.

Chlorpyrifos Many crops and

household uses

Many pests Broad spectrum used for

both indoor and outdoor pest

control.

ICON Household pests,

especially mosquitoes

Mosquitoes control in public

health programme

Some farmers use this also

on crops for pest control.

Karate Slippery kabis,

cabbages,

watermelons, beans

Bollworms, aphids, plant

bugs, thrips, beetles,

Spodoptera spp.

Broad spectrum synthetic

pyrethroid for control of

wide range of crop pests.

Lambda 2.5%EC Same as for Karate Same as for Karate Same as for Karate

Malathion Crops and domestic

use

Crop and domestic pests Old insecticide; many crops

pests are resistant to

Malathion.

Mavrik Slippery kabis, beans,

cabbages

Aphids, caterpillars, beetles,

etc.

Mostly used for chewing and

sucking insects

Mustang Taro Taro beetles One of the registered

insecticides for use for TB

control in PNG

Orthene/Otin Rice, vegetables and

many other crops

Brown planthopper, rice leaf

roller, diamondback moth,

Most common insecticide in

use in SI; given by TTM to

22

bollworm, aphids, leaf

miners and many other

pests.

rice farmers for rice pest

control.

Perkill 250 EC Many crops and

household

Crops pests and

impregnating of mosquito

nets for malaria control

programme

Mo common SP in use many

places.

Pyrethrum Crops and household

pests

Many pests on ornamental

and garden crops – aphids,

caterpillars, etc

A natural insecticide

Success Vegetables and fruits Bollworm, hornworm,

fruitworm, armyworm,

cluster caterpillar,

diamondback moth, large

cabbage moth, and others

A biopesticides certified for

use in organic agriculture

Target Vegetables and

ornamentals

Bollworm, hornworm,

fruitworm, armyworm,

cluster caterpillar,

diamondback moth, large

cabbage moth, and others

Mixture of permethrin and

primiphos-mehtyl

Molluscides

Yates Baysol Gardens For control of snails and

slugs

Bait which is scattered. In

very moist conditions it

develops moulds which

become un attractive to

snails. Avoid domestic

animal

Yates Blitzem Gardens For control of slugs and

snails

Bait pellets scattered in

gardens or on periphery of

gardens. Avoid development

of moulds.

Fungicides Axiom Vegetables, crops,

ornamentals

Leaf spots, anthracnose,

rusts, scabs, downy mildews,

etc

A protectant fungicide for

used on crops and seed

treatment.

Borrek ,, Leaf moulds, leaf spots,

downy mildews, late blights,

fruits rots, etc.

Protectant fungicide for use

on moulds and many fungal

diseases

Leaf curl Cocoa and other crops Cocoa black pod and other

fungi and bacterial diseases

Registered as Cobox in 1986

Herbicides

Amine 720 Pastures, playing

fields, lawns, cereals

Selective for control of

broadleaf weeds

2, 4-D is hormonal herbicide

and is commonly used as

selective herbicide for

control of broadleaves in

crops; drifts should be

avoided to non target plants.

Glyphosate Oil palm and general

use

Non selective for all weeds;

used in zero cultivation

Translocated herbicide; also

is used for killing of trees by

drilling.

23

Gramoxone Oil palm, crops and

general weed control

Non selective for all weeds A general knockdown

herbicide; high oral and

dermal toxicity; its phasing

out in many countries

Grasskill Same as Glyphosate Same as Glyphosate Same as Glyphosate

Timber

treatments

Borracol Timber For treatment of processed

timber

Insecticide/fungicide mixture

for timber treatment

Eco-Bor Timber For treatment of processed

timber

Insecticide and fungicide

mixture used for timber

treatment

Others

Cockroach gel

bait

In houses For control of cockroaches Placed in places where

cockroaches breed or tracks

Rat tracking

powder

Farms, building,

industrial areas

For tracking and control of

rats

Can be mixed with wheat or

other materials as baits

Scarecrow bird

repellent

Birds For scaring birds in crops

Classify the (commercial formulations of the) pesticides according to the WHO

classification of pesticides by hazard.

The pesticides available in Si are listed according to the WHO toxicity and hazard

classification.

Table 2: List of WHO classification of commercial formulations of pesticides available in SI.

Pesticide

formulations

Common Names WHO classification of

hazards

Main Use

Abamectin 0.15%EC Abamectin U Insecticide

Bacillus

thuringiensis

Bacillus

thuringiensis

U Insecticide

Bayticol Dip Flumethrin U Insecticide for ticks

Carbaryl Carbaryl II Insecticide

Carbofuran Carbofuran IB Insecticide

Cartap Cartap II Insecticide

Chlorpyrifos Chlorpyrifos II Insecticide

Deltamethrin Deltamethrin II Insecticide

Fenitrothion Fenitrothion II Insecticide

Fipronil Fipronil II Insecticide

ICON Lambda-cyhalothrin II Insecticide/ mosquitoes

Karate Lambda-cyhalothrin II Insecticide

Lambda 2.5%EC Lambda-cyhalothrin II Insecticide

Malathion Malathion III Insecticide

Mavrik Tau-fluvalinate II Insecticide

Mustang Imidacloprid II Insecticide for TB

24

Natrasoap Potassium salts UN Insecticide/Miticide

Orthene/Otin Acephate III Insecticide

Perkill 250 EC Permethrin II Insecticide

Pyrethrum Pyrethrin II Insecticide

Silafluofen Silafluofen II Insecticide

Success Spinosad U Insecticide

Target Permethrin-

pirimiphos-methyl

II Insecticide

Tebufenozide Tebufenozide III Insecticide

Termidor Fipronil II Insecticide /termites

Yates Baysol Methiocarb 1B Molluscide

Yates Blitzem Metaldehyde II Molluscide

Axiom Mancozeb U Fungicide

Borrek Chlorothalonil U Fungicide

Fos-Jet 60 Phosphite U Fungicide

Leaf curl Copper oxychloride III Fungicide

Tricyclazole Tricyclazole II Fungicide

Amine 720 2,4.D III Herbicide

Butachlor Butachlor U Herbicide

Glyphosate Glyphosate U Herbicide

Gramoxone Paraquat II Herbicide

Grasskill Glyphosate U Herbicide

Boracol Ethylene glycol + II Timber treatment

Eco-Bor Disodium

Octaborate

Tetrahydrate

U Timber treatment

Cockroach gel bait Boric acid U Cockroach bait

Invicta Abamectin U Cockroach bait

Contrac Bromadiolone 1A Rat bait

Rat tracking powder Diphacinone 1A Rat bait

Talon pillet Brodifacoum 1A Rat bait

Scarecrow bird

repellent

Polybutene U Bird repellent

Quick Bayt Imidacloprid II Fly bait

Mortein Allethrin,

Resmethrin

III Household pests

1A – extremely hazardous

1B – highly hazardous

II – moderately hazardous

III – slightly hazardous

U – unclassified (not hazardous in normal use)

Describe the current pesticide use patterns in the country and assess whether pesticides

are used in the context of IPM.

All the farmers who use pesticides for crop pest control use them on calendar basis, irrespective

of the pests are causing damage or not. There is no IPM programme currently in operation;

therefore, no pesticides are used in IPM context. Most of the pesticides available to farmers are

25

broad-spectrum and many are ineffective on the target pests. Farmers don’t have the knowledge

of pests and natural enemies of their crops, therefore, in some cases the unscrupulous use of the

pesticides are causing more problem than good to the farmers. For example use of Orthene

against BPH on rice crops failed to control the pests and farmers losing more than 3 hectares of

rice crop in Fiu on Malaita. A Kakara watermelon farmer sprays Carbaryl every week for

control of pumpkin beetle. The farmer doesn’t know the difference between the pest and natural

enemy species of the beetles.

ii. Indication of type and quantity of pesticides envisaged to be financed by the

project and/or assessment of increase in pesticide use resulting from the

project.

Component 2 is involved in improving the agricultural services and provides support so that rural

community income growth improves. To improve agricultural productive farmers need to have

access to agricultural inputs. The continuous growing of same crops in same land has also

significantly increase demand for high use of chemical fertilizers. It is envisaged that pesticide

use will increase to manage the pests that constantly causes serious damages to crops production

and quality.

Table 3: List of pesticides that may need to be purchased by RDP – this is an indicative

list only

Formulations Common Names Quantity Purpose

Delfin Bacillus

thuringiensis var.

Kurstaki

20 Kg Demonstration on

slippery kabis, cabbages,

watercress, etc.

Xentari B. t. var. aizawai 20 Kg ,,

Success Spinosad 20 Kg ,,

Suncloprid/Mustang/Confidor Imidacloprid 50 litres Taro beetle

demonstrations

Bifenthrin Bifenthrin 50 litres ,,

Steward Indoxacarb 20 litres Testing caterpillars of

various crops

Prevathon Rynaxphyr 5 litres For testing on slippery

kabis, water melons,

cabbages, etc.

Force Cyfluthrin 5 Kg For testing against taro

beetle

Kopi Copper

oxychloride

10 Kg For use on vegetables

against bacterial spots

Glyphosate Glyphosate 50 litres For weed control

26

iii. Circumstances of pesticide use and the capability and competence of end-

users to handle products within acceptable risk margins

Pesticide applications are essential to over the menace from pests and vector control.

Pesticide use is an integral part of pest control system in the crop development

programmes, such as in the rice expansion programme to the rural communities.

Overuses of pesticides are usually the case as a pre-emptive measure, without considering

recommended doses or synergetic effects.

Many farmers have used pesticides for a long time, but they lack the know-how to handle

them properly. There has been no study or data to measure pesticide effects on the

farming community health. To avoid risks, that the appropriate pesticide should be

applied in correct amounts, at the right time, and with appropriate precautions in terms of

storage, preparation and application, and the cleaning of equipment. There is a scientific

consensus that the effects of an inappropriate use of pesticides can seriously affect human

health and the environment.

iv. Selection of pesticides authorized for procurement under the project

If required, prepare provisional lists of pesticides which may be procured under the

project taking into consideration (i) the criteria in OP 4.09 on Pest Management, (ii)

the above hazards and risks, and (iii) the availability of newer and less hazardous

products and techniques (e.g. bio-pesticides, traps)

The pesticide list as in (ii) above is recommended to be purchased in limited quantities by

the project at the approval of the Registrar of Pesticides.

27

6. Policy, regulatory Framework and institutional capacity on Pest

Management

a. Policies on plant protection

Study if a national IPM Policy exists and determines whether it is integrated into the

national agricultural development policy/strategy.

Currently in SI there is no over-arching government policy or strategies for integrated pest

management (IPM) promotion or implementation. However, recently a policy on organic

agriculture was developed and MAL has an extension policy under which it operates and makes

its annual work plan.

It is highly recommended that an overall IPM policy is developed and implemented so that pest

management interventions and the use of pesticides can be safely and better regulated.

Establishment of an IPM committee comprising of relevant agricultural stakeholders is again

highly recommended. This IPM committee will then draft the IPM policy for action in

consultation with experts. IPM committee may also consider and align with other relevant

policies such as policy on SRI.

Although, there is a pesticides regulation in place, it has not been in operation for some time,

therefore no control on pesticide imports, distribution, sales and use has been recorded. MAL is

responsible for the operation and management of the pesticides regulations and registration.

Although pesticide registration activity appears in annual work plan and budgeted for some time,

it has not been implemented. MAL lacks capacity to operate the pesticide regulations; therefore,

external assistance is required to work with MAL staff and develop capacities in the registration

processes.

Pest management activities are under MAL’s Research and Development programme with all

staff based in Honiara. There is a qualified and trained plant pathologist and entomologist, who

just returned from Australia to complete his PhD thesis. Pest management technical staff either

have diploma or certificate in general agriculture from Solomon Islands College of Higher

Education (SICHE) and Fiji College of Agriculture (FCA) and only few of them have had

attachment training at organisations such as SPC on basic pest management.

Crop Health staff has recently been relocated with other research staff in a building with office

space only. There are no proper laboratories and fields to conduct experiments. Basic equipment

has recently been provided under IPPSI project and from SPC, and now in the Crop Health Lab

within the PEQ area at Henderson International Airport.

Capacities on pest management in the provinces are very scanty. Pest management terms are

misunderstood or wrongly used. Some basic training on pest identification, symptoms of damage

and on interventions is currently conducted, but this needs a more inputs of expertise and

resources to the efforts of the local staff. Field staffs are hungry for information and know-how

on pest management so that they can better advice the farmers.

28

It is essential that the basic pest management skills of the field staff be developed in the

provinces by conducting basic and hands-on training. Province field offices also be equipped

with basic pest management tools such as hand lenses, magnifying glasses, collecting bags,

insect nets, storage boxes, preservatives, etc.

b. Description and assessment of the national capacity to develop and implement

ecologically-based IPM

The pest management service within the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) in

Solomon Islands is in a parlous state. There is no policy on ecologically based pest management

and farmers have no access to information. There are no incentive based schemes to promote

alternatives to conventional pesticide uses. Staff within the extension service desperately

requires training and capacity building in all areas, including IPM.

c. Assessment of the country's regulatory framework for control of the distribution

and use of pesticides.

Pesticides control of distribution and use in SI is regulated under “The Safety at Work

(Pesticide) Regulations 1982” which is administered by MAL. A copy of the regulation is

attached as Appendix 3.

The act requires that no pesticide maybe imported, used, or offered for sale unless it has been

registered with the Registrar. The pesticide registration is governed by Pesticide Registration

Advisory Committee (PRAC) which comprises of:

a) Senior Government Officer responsible for Agriculture (understood to be PS of

MAL), who shall be the chairman:

b) The Registrar (assumed to be the Director of Research), who shall be secretary

c) Public Officers from:

a. Government Pharmacy

b. Government Officer concerned with industrial safety

c. Government scientist concerned with plant protection

d. Public Officers concerned with public health and environment protection, and

e. Not more than 3 other public officers appointed by the Minister.

The aim of PRAC is to advise and make recommendations on all aspects of pesticide registration

process to the Registrar.

Under the act, the Registrar is given the powers to:

a) Register pesticide with or without conditions

b) Refuse registration

c) Require label changes on registered pesticides

d) Cancel a registration

29

The framework of the current pesticide regulation has sufficient control on importation,

distribution, sales and use of pesticides in SI. However, there has been no work carried out on the

pesticide regulation for about 22 years. Therefore, pesticides are freely imported, distributed,

sold and used. To bring control on pesticides it is vital that PRAC is in place and to see that the

pesticide regulation comes into operation.

d. Assessment of the institutional capacity for effective control of the distribution

and use of pesticides

Institutional capacity is lacking for effective control of the distribution and use of pesticides in

SI. Although the pesticide registration activities are budgeted in MAL’s annual work plan for

few years, but no work has been carried out. The following is recommended to develop the

institutional capacity for the pesticides regulation:

a) PRAC needs to be brought into action immediately by appointments of the public officers

as stipulated in the pesticide regulations

b) PRAC advisers the registrar on registration process to bring control of all pesticides in SI.

c) Establish liaison with SI judicatory on the pesticide regulation

d) Establish liaison with Customs to bring control on importation of pesticides

e) Conduct training on pesticide registration process

f) Training of pesticide inspectors

g) Updating of pesticide inventory and list supplied to Customs

30

7. Monitoring and evaluation

Since there is no pest management policy in place, therefore, no monitoring and evaluation of

pest programmes are currently in operation. From the following recommendations it is expected

that when new programmes are in place, performance indicators will be included so that

evaluation of projects can take place. From the objectives and outputs table and once pesticide

regulations start operating all records of pesticides imported and used will be kept. To make this

an easy process an evaluation template can be prepared.

Pesticide management:

- Operation of pesticides legislation, number of meetings held

- Number of pesticides recommended for registration, deregistration

- Record of pesticides imported

- List of selective pesticide available for IPM programmes

- Revised pesticide legislation enhancing better pesticide management

Pest management

- Number of field staff and farmers trained on pest management

- FFS established

- IPM programmes in operation

- List of pest and natural enemies identified and phenology studies conducted

- Level of adoption on new pest management techniques

- Reduction in sale and use of broad spectrum pesticides

As the pest management programmes are developed and implemented applications and

indicators will be identified so that success and failures of programmes can be measured.

Monitoring and evaluation of any project is always a vital component of the project plan. This is

usually neglected because many times they are not incorporated in the project plan or the process

is difficult to follow or there is no budgetary allowance made or there is no compulsion for

follow up from management office because there is nothing in the plan. The result being that

work may or may not be done or completed and everything remains in status quo which makes

future planning and funding justification very difficult to make.

Ideally continuous and systematic evaluations of projects, programmes, personnel, performance,

policies, strategies, products, services, process and systems etc should be conducted in order to

have effective projects with successful outcomes. With proper evaluations we will be able to

identify areas for improvement and /or to generate an assessment of overall quality or value for

future policy planning and funding.

Therefore it is highly recommended that monitoring and evaluation of projects are thought of and

clearly written and understood by the staff right from the beginning. Where there is capacity

lacking in this area, steps ought to be taken to strengthen this capacity with training workshops.

31

8. PEST MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN

The livelihood of Solomon Islands rural communities is largely dependent on

agricultural activities. Increasing urban population puts increasing demands on

food production, thereby increasing intensification of agricultural activities. The

farmers require accessibility to quality agricultural service to support them in

producing quality crops. In order to prevent pests destroying crop production it is

crucial to have appropriate pest management strategies implemented.

Current agricultural programmes lack pest management activities at farmer level.

Field staff and farmers are not well conversed with sustainable pest management

approaches. The farmers use pesticides indiscriminately.

The following pest management plan is designed strengthen the national capacities,

and to address pesticide and pest problems for the progress of crop development

and to support rural services in SI.

a. Pesticide Management

i. Pesticide Regulation

To enable control of importation, distribution, sales and use of pesticide, the

existing pesticide regulation must be operative and enforced.

ii. Pesticide Registration Advisory Committee (PRAC)

“The Safety at Work (Pesticides) Regulations 1982” requires the pesticide registration processes

to take effect. It is highly recommended that PRAC be established as soon as possible.

Step 1: MAL PS (Chairman) and the Director of Research (Registrar of Pesticides and

Secretary) should consult the relevant ministries for appointment of PRAC. Public officers from

each of the following departments can be nominated:

a) Government Pharmacy

b) Ministry of Labour (OHS Officer)

c) Plant Protection Officer

d) Government Public Health Service

e) Ministry of Environment

f) Three other public officers (possibly):

a. Customs

b. Ministry of Trade/Commerce

32

c. Police/Judiciary

Step 2: PRAC advises the Registrar to start with pesticide registration and management process

as stipulated in the pesticide regulation. It should further:

Approve appointment of an officer from within MAL staff (Crop Health

Section staff) who has working knowledge of computers to assist the

Registrar. The appointed officer will:

- Carry out day-to-day pesticide registration activities

- Maintain register of all pesticides

- Survey all pesticide in SI and update records

- Prepare an inventory of all pesticides in SI

The Registrar contacts all pesticide distributors to register their pesticides

within a set time-frame (3-6 months).

After this period if the pesticides are not registered then the PRAC advises the

Registrar to take appropriate enforcement action.

Consider and determine every application for registration of a pesticide and

advises the registrar accordingly

Consider and determine every application for license or permit and advise the

registrar accordingly

Determine whether exemption from registration should be granted to any

particular case

Determine the conditions that should be imposed on the grant or renewal of any

certificate, license or permit.

iii. Liaison with Customs

It is important to ensure that only registered pesticides enter the country

Customs must ensure to prevent importation of unregistered pesticides

Custom Officers should be fully versed and are aware of the pesticide

regulations

Customs is regularly provided with updated list of registered pesticides

together with the list of dealers who are granted permit to import.

iv. Enforcement - Appointment of Pesticides Inspectors

Pesticide inspectors will ensure the monitoring and enforcement of the registered

pesticides as stipulated in the pesticide regulation.

The PRAC will advise the Minister for appointment of suitably qualified officers of

MAL as pesticide inspectors; preferably one each from Plant Protection, Livestock,

Extension, Quarantine and from each Province.

33

- The inspectors will be fully trained in the pesticide regulation, formulations,

classifications and labeling, etc.

- The inspectors will be issued with ID cards (evidence of the appointment)

- They will have powers to enter any premises during normal working hours at

which any pesticide is sold, stored, repacked, distributed or manufactured

- They can confiscate any unregistered, unlabeled, or with any other irregularity

regarding that particular pesticide

- Take samples for such pesticides for analysis purposes

- The pesticide inspectors will be answerable to the Registrar.

v. Residue analysis

There is a definite need to regularly conduct residue analysis of produce from local

markets to ensure that the recommended pesticides are used in accordance with the

registration requirements. Liaise with the MOH Public Health Laboratory.

vi. Revision of the pesticide regulation

Although the current pesticide regulation is in existence it needs to be revised or

amended to widen its scope of pesticide control. The new pesticide legislation also

must be aligned with the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use

of Pesticides, which was adopted by the Council of Food and Agriculture

Organisation of the United Nations Council in November 2002 and amendments

thereafter. SPC has drafted regional generic pesticide legislation for harmonization of

the pesticide law in the Pacific. This can be used as a guideline and adapted with the

specific requirements of SI situation.

vii. Evaluation of new and selective pesticides

It is important that selective and IPM compatible pesticides are made available to the

farmers who use them for pest management on their farms. Currently farmers have

access only to broad-spectrum pesticides which have been over used on crops and

most of the crop pests are highly resistant to their uses. This problem is highly evident

with Orthene on BPH.

viii. Capacity Development

Currently the field staff and farmers have very limited knowledge on the use of

pesticides. It is necessary to develop capacities of the staff and farmers in order to

improve the pesticide usage in accordance with IPM.

The following is recommended to develop their capacities so that informed decision is

made when using pesticides:

ix. Train-the–trainer workshop

One to two week training workshop should be conducted for MAL extension and

research staff, especially from Honiara and Auki, where most of the pesticides are used.

34

The workshop should cover the following topics:

a. Introduction on pesticide usage in agricultural development programmes;

pesticide regulatory system in SI;

b. Pesticide formulations, categories, classifications

c. Pesticide safety

Toxicity

Methods of entry and protection

Safe usage

Safe disposal of left over mixtures and containers

d. Pesticide application

e. Selection of application equipment

f. Nozzles and strainers

g. Maintenance of equipment, before and after use

h. Measuring and mixing procedures

i. Calibration

j. Coverage

x. Farmer trainings

After the train-the-trainer workshop, trainers should then train the farmers. Farmer

training session can be conducted in groups or with individual farmers on farm visits.

Pesticide trainings may also be incorporated with IPM programmes of targeted crops.

b. Development of IPM policy

At present there is no policy on promotion of IPM in SI. Although there have been

projects and organisations working towards development and promotion of IPM

approaches of pest management, there has been no collective voice to raise IPM

concerns, hence no IPM policy is in existence. Although plant protection is a critical

problem at farm levels, many other disciplines related to plant protection such as soil and

crop management and natural resource management should be considered to form a

whole package for sustainable agriculture development.

It is recommended that a multi-sectoral IPM committee be established.

This committee should be tasked to formulate IPM policy and strategies and submit to

Minister of MAL for further actions.

Composition of IPM high level committee:

Plant Protection (Pathologist, Entomologist, Agronomist)

Senior Extension Officer

Senior Quarantine Officer

Environment Officer

35

Health Officer (Vector borne diseases division)

Environmental Health

Consumer group representative

NGO representative

Farmer representative

Pesticide dealers’ representative.

c. Cocoa Pod Borer

Cocoa Pod Borer (CPB) is the major threat to cocoa industry in SI. CPB is now present in

Bougainville and poses threat to spread to the neighbouring province Choiseul and

Shortland. An effective quarantine surveillance programme needs to be established in

these neighbouring provinces. A bilateral agreement maybe developed and agreed upon

by both parties on movement of CPB host materials to and from Bougainville. Weathered

and unattractive posters placed in public places must be replaced with new ones.

Quarantine surveillance must be strengthened in these provinces with regular checks

made on movement of materials to and from Bougainville.

Strategy: To develop emergency response plan (ERP) in preparedness for incursion of

CPB

The ERP may contain the following:

The document

Management structure

The initial response

The response

CPB

Understand CPB

Contingency plan

Division of labour

Preparations for the outbreak

CBP outbreak

The initial response

Activation emergency regulation

Response teams

Collation of data

Reporting to PS MAL

Assessment of data

Action: containment/eradication/suppression

Assessment of field activities

Procedures for assessment of ERP

Conduct simulation workshop on outbreak of CPB.

36

d. Giant African Snail

Giant African Snail (GAS) has recently invaded Honiara. MAL has tried to contain the

pest and put up measures to eradicate it. Despite the eradication efforts, GAS is breeding

prolifically and is spread in almost all of urban and peri-urban areas of Honiara. Its

spread into inaccessible areas which makes it difficult for physical collections and

application of Blitzem pellets. In its current situation it is difficult to eradicate the pest.

Therefore, the plan of action from eradication should now be changed to management

and taking appropriate actions to reduce the pest population so that the risk of it

spreading to other provinces is reduced.

A holistic approach using physical, cultural, chemical and natural methods are developed

to curtail prolific breeding and further spreading. A dossier on GAS should be produced

with full information on its identification and diagnosis of damages, biology, ecology and

approaches of control methods, and other relevant information.

Proposed Action for Management of GAS

Physical control:

Continue collection and killing of snails by burning or dipping them in sea-water;

encourage villagers and general public to do this

Clear rubbish heaps and weeds surrounding gardens, buildings, and other

possible areas where the snail breeds.

Quarantine

Prevent movement of planting and other possible materials across districts

which harbour the snails from infested areas to non infested areas;

Maintain continuous quarantine surveillance at wharves and airports to avoid

movement of snails from Honiara to other regions.

Biological control

Biological control of GAS is the best approach to curtail the prolific breeding.

Attempts should be made to explore possibilities of introducing suitable bioagents

into the population of GAS in Honiara.

For long term management of GAS it is vital that a natural biotic factor be

included in programme.

Currently the population in SI does not show sign of any effective natural enemies

present in the field

It may be necessary to introduce the release of these bioagents from elsewhere.

37

e. Demonstration of Taro Beetle Management Package

5.1 To promote taro beetle management packages in sustainable taro farming systems

SPC has developed and demonstrated participatory approach of taro beetle management

practices based on use of 2 insecticides, imidacloprid and bifenthrin. The SPC

recommendation has been well adopted and practiced in Fiji, PNG and Vanuatu. It is

suggested that SPC recommendations be incorporated into a taro management

programme in SI.

In addition to the application of insecticides, the demonstrations shall also include:

Crop rotation practices in multi-cropping with crops such as peanuts

Fallow with a legume (Mucuna)

Fungicide dipping and the application of compost or mineral fertilizers, where

needed.

The demonstration plots be set up on taro farms where the recommendations on 2

insecticides, Bifenthrin and Imidacloprid, be demonstrated in a holistic integrated pest

management approach for its adoption by the farmers.

5.2 Evaluation of alternative traditional control methods for taro beetle

Farmers in SI are using coleus plant in taro garden to avoid damages from taro

beetles. There is no evidence to substantiate this practice. It is essential to

scientifically prove if coleus is really effective in minimising the taro beetle

infestation. If this is proven, then it can be further developed and promoted to be

used in IPM approach to control TB.

5.3 To evaluate new insecticides against taro beetles:

Select suitable pesticides

Design trials and carry out field testing on rates and frequency of applications

Participatory demonstration for taro growers with IPM strategies

f. Development and implementation of IPM in Rice

Despite significant efforts currently put in place for development of rice in SI, rice

production has declined and farmers are highly reliable on pesticides for pest control.

Successful IPM programmes have been developed and used in Asia and elsewhere, but

they cannot be merely implemented here. There are differences in the structure of pest

and natural enemy complexes, the climatic conditions, and the pattern of rice cultivation.

Composition of pests and natural enemies of rice are poorly understood in SI.

A study towards understanding the pests, their seasonality, natural enemies present

in rice fields, and their impact on rice pests need to be determined before IPM can

be developed.

38

Strategy: To demonstrate effective IPM approaches of rice pest management:

a. Survey key pests of rice and their associated natural enemies

b. Planting in succession of rice plots in 3 monthly cycles for one year to study the

effect of key pests (brown planthopper and rice leaf roller).

c. Determine the role of natural enemies of the key pests

d. Introduce and release natural enemies from other rice growing countries where

effective natural enemies are present

e. Test selective compatible insecticides against key pests

f. Set up FFS within appropriate farmer groups

g. A master trainer’s inputs maybe necessary for the running of FFS and training

of field staff, in the first instance

g. Development and Implementation of IPM strategies on vegetable crops

where pesticides are used

The existing practices for pest management on major vegetables are heavily relied on

application of pesticides. The farms are adjacent to each other and farmers grow same

crops. This in total can be construed as mono-cropping. Therefore facilitation, adoption

and uptake of effective IPM strategies for the control of insects and other pests of target

vegetable crops (slippery kabis, cabbages, watermelons and beans) must be developed

and implemented.

Proposed IPM programme:

Demonstrates effective integrated approaches of vegetable pest management

Promotes and creates awareness of the concepts and benefits of IPM so that it is

understood and accepted by the local communities

Introduces FFS approaches for improved sustainable production systems in

vegetable crops and effective communication of project outputs

Local field officers are appropriately trained to conduct FFS for improved and

sustainable vegetable production, effective communication of project outputs and

farmers empowered to make appropriate decisions.

Determines the role of major natural enemies in the management of target

vegetable crop pests

Natural enemy status of target vegetables is established

Locally present natural enemies are properly identified

Suitability of potentially effective natural enemies introduced from similar

climatic condition.

IPM package of practice using selective plant protection products, crop and soil

management requirements for the target vegetable crops developed.

39

h. To develop and demonstrate effective integrated approaches to slippery

kabis IPM

Two common and serious pests of slippery kabis are the flea beetle (Nisotra basellae)

and shoot borer (Earias vittella). Both cause serious damage to slippery kabis and

farmers depend on insecticide sprays for their control. The research on identification and

cultural methods of control of flea beetle done by MAL entomologist for PhD studies

may be used. However, this will need to be tested first.

Conduct survey of natural enemies to study how they contribute towards

control of the slippery kabis pests.

Possible introduction and releases of effective bioagents from elsewhere

Conduct field trials to test out selective insecticide suitable for IPM

programmes

Develop IPM package and conduct active participatory demonstrations on the

essential elements of effective IPM strategies to farmers.

i. To develop and implement IPM in sustainable production systems of

cabbages

Chinese and ball cabbages are important commodities for both subsistence and

commercial farmers. Chinese cabbage production is increasing and is widely consumed

as a major green leafy vegetable. Insect pests, particularly diamond back moth (DBM)

and large cabbage moth (LCM), are major constraints to production. Under intensive

farming systems in Honiara and Auki, prophylactic applications of broad-spectrum

insecticides are used to combat the pests. DBM is notoriously known to have developed

resistance with most of the insecticides in use. Excessive use of such insecticides cause

serious economic and environmental problems upsets natural enemies and gives rise to

minor pests in cropping systems.

Cabbage IPM programmes have been recently conducted in Fiji, Samoa, Malaysia, Korea

etc. Outcomes of the cabbage IPM project in Fiji and Samoa can be used as base to

develop cabbage IPM programme in SI. However, IPM programme from elsewhere

cannot be directly used. A collaborative research and extension activities to facilitate the

adoption and uptake of IPM needs to be developed, viz:

Study of the cabbage pests and their natural enemies

Cultural practices

Selection and testing of IPM compatible insecticides

Participatory trials to demonstrate the essentials elements of effective cabbage

IPM

Development of IPM package of practice to fit into to SI conditions

Setting up and running of FFS

40

7.2.1 To determine the role of natural enemies of key pests in sustainable

management of cabbage pests.

Survey cabbage farms to determine key pests and associated natural enemies

Determine impact of natural enemies on the key pests in absence of pesticide

applications

If natural enemies of key pests are not present in SI, then search should be

made of effective bioagents (Cotesia plutellae, Oomyzus sokolowskii) from

elsewhere such as from Fiji, Samoa or Queensland for their importation and

releases in the fields

Set up rearing facilities – quarantine and mass rearing

7.2.2 To develop IPM products to suite local conditions

Selective and effective insecticides against key pests are essential for refining strategies

in IPM programme. Formulations of biocides such as Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) (Delfin,

Dipel, Thuricide and Xentari) and Spinosad (Success) are used elsewhere and works well

in cabbage IPM programme. New insecticides such as Rynaxphyr and Indoxacarb,

although not very specific can also be tested and used on cabbages.

Testing of selected biocides and other selective products against the key pests

Assess economic thresholds for selective product interventions

7.2.3 Introduction of FFS and demonstration of effective IPM to improved

sustainable production systems in cabbages

Participatory approaches based on FFS developed in other Pacific Islands and Asia will

assist in adoption of cabbage IPM practices in SI. Cabbage farmers in a locality get

together regularly (weekly at a fixed day and time) throughout whole crop cycle (sowing

of seed to harvest). IPM and non-IPM plots of cabbage set up at a farmer field at a central

location within that community. At FFS gathering core observations and discussions are

conducted on agro-ecosystems, pests and their damages, natural enemies and analysis to

make decisions on interventions, if necessary. The FFS group is guided by trained

facilitator on field observations, discussions and ensures that important issues are covered

at each gathering.

Training of extension and research staff in FFS techniques by a master trainer

in vegetable IPM

Running of FFS in selective cabbage growing areas and communities.

41

j. To develop and implement IPM strategies in sustainable production of

watermelons and other cucurbits

Watermelon is an important cash crop in SI and there is high usage of pesticides against insect

pests and diseases. The pesticides that are available locally are over used and sometimes do not

work, even ones supplied by TTM with the seeds do not work. Despite this farmers continue to

use them and upset the balance between pests and natural enemies. Most of the sprays are on

prophylactic basis and during flowering kill the pollinators which result in poor pollination and

fruit quality. The key pests are flea and pest species of ladybird beetles, melon fruitfly, cucumber

caterpillar, aphids, mites, and diseases such as gummy and late blight.

The pest and natural enemy complexes and structure are not understood, therefore, studies will

need to be conducted to fill this gap. It is proposed to:

Conduct surveys to study pest and natural enemy species on each pest.

Carry out field experiment to study the pest and natural enemy phonologies

Test appropriate pest management products such IPM pesticides, soil fertility

improve inputs, suitable crop varieties to region, and other factors

Set up active FFS of appropriate farmer group and run FFS

k. Coconut leaf miner

Coconut is an important commodity in Temotu and other provinces in SI. The coconut

leaf miner (CLM) cyclic outbreaks are growing concern on Santa Cruz. CLM reduces

yields and severely infested plants stop nut production, and in some cases death of plants

occur. It is vital that a comprehensive study be conducted to understand the causes of

CLM outbreaks so that preventative measures can be put in place to overcome this

problem.

Action:

Conduct monitoring surveys to study the pest and its natural enemies present in

Temotu and other provinces where CLM is present

Introduction of more effective natural enemies, possibly from PNG, Fiji or

Vanuatu.

l. Yellow crazy ant

Yellow crazy ant (YCA) is an invasive species and very destructive wherever it is

present. It is considered as an agricultural pest because it nurtures insect pest species such

as scales, mealy bugs, aphids, whiteflies, etc. for food and chases away their natural

42

enemies. Spread of YCA into new areas will give additional concerns to the farmers who

are already struggling to combat the existing pest problems.

Action:

d) Prevent movement of planting and other possible materials which harbour the ants

from infested areas to non infested areas

e) Maintain continuous quarantine surveillance at wharves and airports to avoid

movement of ants from the Reef Island.

43

9. Objectives and Outputs

Table 4: Objectives and outputs.

Objectives &

Activities

Outputs Applications/Indicators Risks/Assumptions

Objective 1: To facilitate the operations of the pesticide regulation in SI.

Activity 1: Establish

the Pesticide

Registration Advisory

Committee (PRAC)

PRAC is established

and advises the

Registrar. Pesticide

registration processes

take place.

Public officers from

relevant ministries

appointed to represent

PRAC and convene

meetings. Registered

pesticides recorded and

inventory available.

The public officers

from respective

Ministries actively

participate in the

operation of PRAC

Activity 2: Establish

liaison with Customs

Only registered

pesticides are imported.

Customs makes regular

and constant checks of

imported pesticides and

allows in only registered

pesticides

Registrar is notified of

unregistered pesticides

imported into the country

Custom officers are

involved and they have

updated list of

registered pesticides

Activity 3:

Enforcement –

Appointment of

Pesticide Inspectors

(PIs) and powers

legislated and gazetted.

Enforcement of the

pesticide regulations;

All pesticides

imported, distributed

and sold are in

accordance with the

pesticides regulations.

Regular visits to pesticide

operations and reports

filed. Pesticides are

properly labeled; pesticide

dealers adhere to

requirement of pesticide

regulations.

Pesticide importers and

dealers register their

pesticides; they have

capacity to fill in the

registration form and

submit to the registrar

Activity 4: Revise the

pesticide regulation

and replace with new

and comprehensive

legislation

An improved and

international standard

of pesticide legislation.

A comprehensive

legislation in operation.

Pesticide management

issues addressed in

accordance with

international standards

SI judicatory assists in

the process. Parliament

enacts the revised

legislation

Activity 5: Test

potential selective and

effective pesticides for

use in IPM

programmes

Selective and effective

pesticides available for

use in IPM

programmes

Selection, procurement and

testing of IPM pesticides;

List of IPM pesticides

tested in SI.

IPM pesticides are

available and registered

in SI; IPM pesticides

are affordable

Objective 2: To develop capacities in management of pesticides

Activity 1: Conduct

training in pesticide

registration processes

Improved capacities in

pesticide registration

processes developed

Improved pesticide

registration; improved and

efficient client dealings.

Professional capabilities

improved.

Training programmes

facilitated; resources

available to conduct

training.

Activity 2: Training of

field staff and farmers

on pesticide usage

Improved knowledge

to handle pesticides;

Misuses and abuses of

pesticides prevented

Improved judgment on

decision making for use of

pesticides; reduction

reliance on pesticides for

Resources for training

available; field and

farmers participate in

training programmes

44

and avoided pest management

interventions. Farmers

empowered to make

decisions on use of

pesticides

Objective 3: To develop IPM policy so that support for appropriate pest management strategies

applicable to SI situation is addressed

Activity 1: Establish

IPM committee &

issues identified

A forum to address

IPM issues;

IPM working committee if

formed and conduct

regular meetings. IPM

issues addressed and

improved pest

management options for

farmers.

IPM committee

members convene

regular meetings and

address IPM issues

concerning pest

management

developments

Activity 2: Develop

IPM policy

A working document

which provides

guidelines of use of

products for

sustainable crop

production systems

IPM committee drafts

policy and passes onto the

Minister. A working

document addressing pest

management issues

available

IPM policy adopted by

MAL and other

relevant organisations

Objective 4: To develop emergency response plan (ERP) in preparedness for incursion of

CPB

Activity 1: Develop an

emergency response

plan (ERP)

ERP which effectively

goes into action in case

of incursion of CPB

CPB stakeholders involved

in the ERO process; A

manual addressing

activities for incursion of

CPB

ERP adopted by MAL

and other stakeholders

Activity 2: Conduct

ERP simulation

workshop on CPB

MAL staff and other

stakeholders trained in

case of outbreak CPB

In case of incursions, MAL

and other stakeholders

capable of responding to

the demands of CPB

outbreaks

MAL staff and others

attend the workshop;

resources available to

conduct simulations

Objective 5: To manage Giant African Snail (GAS) to contain it within the infested area and

reduce breeding populations

Activity 1: Conduct

quarantine surveillance

to create awareness at

sea and air ports

Public aware on

importance and

destructive nature of

GAS.

GAS posters at strategic

places at sea and air ports;

Public avoid movement

materials habouring GAS

Public cooperation; no

vandalism of posters.

Activity 2: Exercise

integrated approaches

of GAS management –

physical, cultural,

biological, chemical &

environmental

Reduced populations of

GAS at infestation

sites;

Several – less incidences

of GAS; dead GAS;

bioagents present in field

populations, etc.

Appropriate

managements tools and

effective bioagents

available;

Objective 6: To promote taro beetle management packages in sustainable taro farming

systems. Activity 1:

Demonstration on the

use of recommended

insecticides in

Sustainable

management TB

Participatory

demonstrations with

appropriate farming

communities; taro farmers

Taro growers

participate and adopt

the technology.

Recommended

45

sustainable TB

management

participating in

demonstrations.

insecticides available

to farmers.

Activity 2: Evaluation

of coleus in taro fields

for control of TB

Coleus use

substantiated in taro

fields

Testing coleus plants in

replicated field

experiments

Coleus is effective in

TM control

Activity 3: Evaluation

of new insecticides

against TB

New insect available

for sustainable TB

management

New products in market;

alternative choices

available

New insecticides

available for testing;

they are effective

Objective 7: To develop effective IPM approaches in sustainable rice production systems

Activity 1: Conduct

surveys and

phenological studies of

pests and their natural

enemies in rice fields

Composition and

seasonality of rice pests

and their natural

enemies

Data recorded and

processed; List of rice pest

and their natural enemies.

Rice fields are

accessible; trained

persons to conduct

surveys;

Activity 2: Testing of

selective IPM

compatible insecticides

against BPH, rice leaf

roller and other pests

IPM insecticides for

rice pests.

Selection, procurement and

testing of insecticides; IPM

compatible insecticides

available.

Availability of IPM

insecticides; fields

available for

experiments; data

recorded processed

Activity: Training and

running of rice FFS

Field staff trained in

rice FFS; trained

trainers run FFS with

appropriate rice farmer

groups.

FFS trained staff are

empowered to make

appropriate pest decisions.

Master trainer for rice

FFS; Appropriate rice

farmer groups.

Objective 8: To develop and implement IPM in sustainable production systems of slippery kabis

Activity 1: Conduct

field surveys of natural

enemies and

phenological studies

Composition and effect

of natural enemies on

pests of slippery kabis

List of natural enemies of

slippery kabis pests;

Slippery kabis fields

available to conduct

surveys and monitoring

studies.

Activity 2: Test

selective and effective

IPM insecticides

against key pests of

slippery kabis

Selective and effective

insecticides for use

against key pests of

slippery kabis in IPM

programmes

IPM insecticides available

for use on slippery kabis.

Testing samples of

insecticides available;

field for experiments;

resources for

experiments

Activity 3: Establish

and run FFS for

slippery kabis farmers

Slippery kabis FFS

established; Reliance

on pesticide usage

reduced

Field staff and farmers

empowered to make

decisions for appropriate

interventions for pest

management on slippery

kabis

Farmer participate in

FFS; Effective

insecticides available

for use in Slippery

kabis IPM programmes

Objective 9: To develop and implement IPM in sustainable production systems of cabbages and

watercress

Activity 1: Conduct

field surveys of natural

enemies and

phenological studies

Composition and effect

of natural enemies on

pests of cabbages

Field surveys and

monitoring fields

established; List and

composition of natural

enemies of cabbage pests;

Cabbage fields

available to conduct

surveys and monitoring

studies.

Activity 2: Test

selective and effective

IPM insecticides

Selective and effective

insecticides for use

against key pests of

IPM insecticides available

for use on cabbages.

Tests samples of

insecticides available;

field for experiments;

46

against key pests of

cabbages

cabbages in IPM

programmes

resources for

experiments

Activity 3: Conduct

FFS train-the-trainer

workshops and

establish cabbage FFS

Field staff trained in

running cabbage FFS;

Trainees run FFS of

cabbage farmers

Field staff and farmers

empowered to make

decisions for appropriate

interventions for pest

management in cabbages.

Trainer is available to

conduct FFS training;

Activity 4: Conduct

experiments on

submerging of

watercress rafts to kill

insects

Submerging rafts

adequately tested and

data available.

Technique adopted by

watercress growers;

reduction on use of

insecticides on water cress.

Watercress rafts and

test insects available;

data recorded and

processed properly

Objective 10: To develop and implement IPM strategies in sustainable production of watermelons

and other cucurbits

Activity 1: Field

surveys of pests and

natural enemies of

watermelons and other

cucurbits

Inventory of pests and

natural enemies of

watermelons and

cucurbits understood

Surveys carried out and

data recorded; Natural

enemies of key pest

known; Pests and natural

enemies listed

Field for surveys;

existence of natural

enemies of watermelon

pests.

Activity 2: Testing of

IPM insecticides and

other products

Effectiveness of IPM

insecticides confirmed

Watermelon IPM

insecticides identified and

available for use.

IPM insecticides

available; fields to

conduct tests

Activity 3: Set up and

run FFS of watermelon

farmers

FFS established to

conduct IPM

programmes

Field staff and farmers

empowered to make

decisions of intervention

for pest management

operations.

Farmers participate in

IPM programme;

availability of

resources

47

10. Proposed schedule of activities

Table 5: Proposed schedule of activities for pesticide registration process

Objectives &

Activities

Tasks Time line

(Year &Month)

Milestones

Objective 1: To facilitate the operations of the pesticide regulation in SI.

Activity 1:

Establish the

Pesticide

Registration

Advisory

Committee

(PRAC)

PS/US(T) and

DOR meet to

consult ministries

for nominations of

representatives;

List sent to the

Minister and

gazetted; PRAC

conducts meetings

and advises the

Registrar;

Registrar appoints

assistant to carry

out day-to-day

activities

Yr 1; M 1-3

PRAC gets acquainted with the pesticide

regulations and a forum established for

pesticide registration processes and

control.

The appointed officer is trained in

pesticide registration and caries out

registration processes under supervision

of the Registrar. Registered pesticides

recorded and inventory in place.

Activity 2:

Establish liaison

with Customs

Registrar meets

Customs and

briefs the pesticide

regulation;

updated registered

pesticide list

provided to

Customs

Yr 1; M 4-6 Customs allows in only registered

pesticides.

Activity 3:

Enforcement –

Appointment of

Pesticide

Inspectors (PIs)

and powers

legislated and

gazetted.

The Registrar

selects staff and

submits to

Minister for

appointment;

inspectors trained

Yr 1; M 6-9 Enforcement of the pesticide regulations

in effect.

Activity 4: Revise

the pesticide

regulation and

replace with new

and

comprehensive

legislation

PRAC considers

revision of the

pesticide

regulation. Seeks

assistance for the

revision and

amendments;

submits proposal

to SI judicatory.

YR 2; M 3-9 New and comprehensive pesticide law

takes effect. Pesticide control meets

international standard.

Activity 5: Test

potential selective

and effective

Experiment design

planning,

selection and

Yr 2; M 1-12

Selective and defective pesticides known

ad available for use in IPM programmes.

48

pesticides for use

in IPM

programmes

procurement of

pesticides

Conduct field tests

Objective 2: To develop capacities in management of pesticides

Activity 1:

Conduct training

in pesticide

registration

processes

Conduct training

on pesticide

registration

processes

Yr 1; M 3-6 Pesticides registration process

understood and carried out

professionally.

Activity 2:

Training of field

staff and farmers

on pesticide usage

Conduct pesticide

training

Yr 1’ M 6-12 Field staffs understand the importance of

pesticide in pest management and are

able to make decisions when to use

them. Judicious uses of pesticides. Field

staff and famers empowered in pest

management decision making.

Objective 3: To develop IPM policy so that support for appropriate pest management strategies

applicable to SI situation is addressed

Activity 1:

Establish IPM

committee &

issues identified

Consultations on

IPM committee

Y r 1; M 6-12 IPM committee as a collective voice on

IPM issues established.

Activity 2:

Develop IPM

policy

IPM committee

dwells on IPM

policy

Yr 1; M 6-12 IPM provides guidelines on integrated

approaches of pest management.

Objective 4: To develop emergency response plan (ERP) in preparedness for incursion of

CPB

Activity 1:

Develop an

emergency

response plan

(ERP)

Draft CBP ERP in

consultation with

SPC biosecurity

Yr 1; M 3-6 ERP is in place for consultation on CBP

incursion. COB prevention plan in place.

Activity 2:

Conduct ERP

simulation

workshop on CPB

Conduct training

workshop on ERP

Y r 1; M 9

MAL staff and other stakeholder trained

in carrying out CPB ERP.

Objective 5: To manage Giant African Snail (GAS) to contain it within the infested area and

reduce breeding populations

Activity 1:

Conduct

quarantine

surveillance to

create awareness

at sea and air ports

Placement of

posters; quarantine

checks, etc

Continuous Public are constantly aware of the

importance of GAS and its effect of rural

communities.

Activity 2:

Exercise integrated

approaches of

GAS management

– physical,

cultural,

Carryout control

measures to reduce

to GAS breeding

Y r 1-3 GAS population reduced to manageable

level and reduces risk of spread to other

places.

49

biological,

chemical &

environmental

Objective 6: To promote taro beetle management packages in sustainable taro farming

systems. Activity 1:

Demonstration on

the use of

recommended

insecticides in

sustainable TB

management

Select

demonstration

sites;

Conduct meeting

and discussion

with famer groups;

Land preparation

and procurement

of materials

Planting and first

demonstration of

insecticide

application;

Second application

of insecticides;

Harvest and

evaluation of

demonstration

with a field day.

Yr 1; M 1-12

Participating farmers are well versed

with insecticide applications in

sustainable management of TB.

Pesticide used safely; environment

pollution avoided.

Activity 2:

Evaluation of

coleus in taro

fields for control

of TB

Planning, trial

design,

procurement of

materials

Field experiments

Yr 2-3; Data of use of coleus in taro plantations

substantiated.

Activity 3:

Evaluation of new

insecticides

against TB

Planning and

procurement of

materials

Field experiments

Yr 2-4;

New insecticide available for use in

sustainable management of TB.

Objective 7: To develop effective IPM approaches in sustainable rice production systems

Activity 1:

Conduct surveys

and phenological

studies of pests

and their natural

enemies in rice

fields

Conduct rice pest

and natural

enemies surveys

Yr 1; M 1-12 Rice pests and their seasonality

understood; range of natural enemies

rice pests known.

Activity 2: Testing

of selective IPM

compatible

insecticides

against BPH, rice

leaf roller and

other pests

Plan and

procurement of

materials

Planting of rice

plot of 100m2

every 3 months

and monitoring

every week

Yr 2-4 IPM pesticides for sustainable pest

management in rice

Activity: Training Plan and Yr 2-4 Field staff and empowered to make

50

and running of rice

FFS

procurement of

material

Conduct

experiments

appropriate pest management decisions;

reduction of reliance of pesticides.

Objective 8: To develop and implement IPM in sustainable production systems of slippery kabis

Activity 1:

Conduct field

surveys of natural

enemies and

phonological

studies

Field surveys and

monitoring of

pests and their

natural enemies on

slippery kabis

Yr 1; M 1-12 Composition of pest and natural enemies

on slippery kabis understood.

Activity 2: Test

selective and

effective IPM

insecticides

against key pests

of slippery kabis

Conduct

experiments on

insecticides

against slippery

kabis pests.

Yr 2-4 IPM insecticides tested sustainable

slippery kabis pest management.

Activity 3:

Establish and run

FFS for slippery

kabis farmers

Establish FFs with

appropriate

communities

Yr 2-4 Farm learn from each other on slippery

kabis crop management

Objective 9: To develop and implement IPM in sustainable production systems of cabbages and

watercress

Activity 1:

Conduct field

surveys of natural

enemies and

phonological

studies

Conduct pest and

natural enemy

surveys on

research stations

and on farms

Pests collected and

reared to

determine

parasitism levels

Natural enemies

collected and

appropriately

stored

Yr 1, m 1-12

Temporal variations in pest abundance

determined

Inventory of pests and their natural

enemies established

Activity 2: Test

selective and

effective IPM

insecticides

against key pests

of cabbages

Bioassays of

selective plant

protection

products

performed

Yr 2-4 Bioassay data analysed and effectiveness

of selective plant protection products

against pest complex confirmed.

Activity 3:

Conduct FFS

train-the-trainer

workshops and

establish cabbage

Conduct FFS

training of

extension

personnel

Yr 2-4 Local extension staff thoroughly trained

in the concepts and mechanism of the

FFS approach

51

FFS

Activity 4:

Conduct

experiments on

submerging of

watercress rafts to

kill insects

Conduct

submerging

experiments

Yr 1; M 1-12 Submerging method adequately tested

and data available

Objective 10: To develop and implement IPM strategies in sustainable production of watermelons

and other cucurbits

Activity 1:

Conduct surveys

of pests and

natural enemies of

watermelons and

other cucurbits

Conduct pest and

natural enemy

surveys on

research stations

and on farms

Pests collected and

reared to

determine

parasitism levels

Natural enemies

collected and

appropriately

stored

Yr 1-2

Temporal variations in pest abundance

determined

Inventory of pests and their natural

enemies established

Activity 2: Testing

of IPM

insecticides and

other products

Bioassays of

selective plant

protection

products

performed

Yr 2-4 Bioassay data analysed and effectiveness

of selective plant protection products

against pest complex confirmed.

Activity 3: Set up

and run FFS of

watermelon

farmers

Conduct FFS

training of

extension

personnel

Yr 2-4 Local extension staff thoroughly trained

in the concepts and mechanism of the

FFS approach

52

11. Acknowledgement

Thanks are due to all persons who assisted the PMS to obtain the materials necessary to complete

this report. Special thanks are due to the Component 2 Coordinator, Mr. Gabriel Hiele and

Component 2 Adviser, Dr. Mark Johnston for their guidance and advice. MAL staff at HQ

particularly Director of Research and his plant protection staff who were often consulted for their

opinion, Director of Quarantine and his staff, Director of Extension, Senior Adviser, and the field

staff in the Provinces are also thanked for their assistance. I would like to thank many farmers

who allowed me to visit their farms and for frank opinions and discussion on pest management

issues concerning them. Lastly Solomon Island Rural Development Programme for hiring me to

conduct this study on pest management needs and help improve the rural services.

53

12. APPENDICES

Appendix 1:

Field Visit Reports of the 4 RDP Provinces

Purpose:

- Familiarize with pest management activities and services in the provinces

- Meet field staff and discuss on the existing pest management programmes

- Assess and make recommendations for possible improvements of capacity building in pest

management in the provinces

- List pest management needs of the provinces

Choiseul Province

Dates of travel: 10-13 October 2010

Traveling staff:

- Mr. Gabriel Hiele - RDP Component 2 Coordinator

- Mr. Belden Taki - Deputy Director of Extension, Head Quarters (HQ)

- Mrs. Jacqueline Qaloboe - Human Resources Manager, HQ

Activities:

- Attend the provincial staff meeting

- Meet the field staff in the province

- Familiarize with the agricultural services in the outer provinces

- Visits the project sites

- Discuss pest and management issues with the field staff and the farmers

- Plan possible future activities for pest management

- Make recommendations for pest management

Staff conference

The visit to Choiseul Province was arranged to attend the staff meeting and to meet with the field

staff and discuss their activities in their regions.

First day of the meeting was devoted to presentations from HQ staff on extension policies, issues

and extension human resources. The regional field staff from the 3 regions in Choiseul Province

presented their progress reports, concerns of the farmers and proposals for the 2011 programme.

Mr. Taki presented the extension policies highlighting the need for them in the annual work.

Some of the plans need to address the issues of the farmers and needs highlighting and to align

with the work plan to comply with the overall extension policies of MAL

PMS presented the management of taro beetles using insecticides

Following are some of the pest problems highlighted in the presentations by the Choiseul

field staff:

Northwest Choiseul

- Taro beetle (TB) is a major pest problem for taro production; farmers currently do shift

planting or use coleus to manage TB.

54

- Vegetables have a range of pest problem, such as aphids, mealy bugs, cluster caterpillar,

leaf miner; Bean pod-sucking bug (Riptortus sp.) on beans and DBM on cabbages are the

major insect pests of vegetables

- Rice pest problems are brown plant hopper and leaf roller; farmers are asking for

insecticides to manage the rice pests; since the withdrawal of TTM inputs of pesticides,

fertilizers, farm tools, etc. The farmers have lost interest in rice and the rice production

in the region has declined.

- CLIP has generated new interest in cocoa and old plantations are currently being

rehabilitated. New planting programme is also underway in the region. There is a concern

of increased incursion of CPB and its consequence on cocoa industry. CPB posters have

been placed at public offices, stores and other places to create awareness amongst the

cocoa producers and general public.

- There are a few semi-commercial farmers who do mix farming of root crops, vegetables

and fruits with a small plot of rice. The produce is sold at the Taro market.

East Choiseul

- TB is a major pest and farmers do shift cultivation to manage the pest. According to the

extension officer farmers are interested in more taro cultivation but TB is a constraint.

- Rice pests were also highlighted from this region; farmers are requesting for continuation

of supply of pesticides for rice to manage the pests.

- Like other regions CPB concerns have been raised in the region as well.

South Choiseul

- TB is also a concern for taro farmers here. As in other regions farmers practice shift

cultivation away in newly cleared forest areas to avoid TB damage. Despite this farmers

still lose a lot of harvest from TB damages.

- Rice concerns are same as in other regions in Choiseul

- Assorted vegetables face similar pest problems as in other regions. There has been

demonstration on use of PDPs (Derris) for use against the vegetable pests.

- CPB concerns were highlighted.

Proposed Oil Palm industry in the Choiseul province

- SIG is proposing a oil palm plantation as an enterprise in the province; currently a project

manager is based in Taro and working with communities to establish the oil palm

plantations

- It is envisaged that once the oil planting programme starts herbicides will be used for

clearing the land and weed management in the plantations.

- Large land clearing may upset current ecological environment in the region which may

give rise to new pest problems.

Farm visits

The semi-commercial farm was visited which is located at Rabakela settlement in the Northern

Choiseul. The farmer grows mixed crops of rice, root crops (sweet potatoes, taro, cassava),

vegetables (slippery kabis, eggplants, beans, Chinese and ball cabbages, spring onions, pepper,

pumpkins, watermelons, cucumber, lettuces and corn), and fruits (bananas, guava, karambola).

The produce is sold at Taro market.

Rice – a small plot of less than a quarter hectare rice was at panicle initiation stage. There was

slight infestation of the rice leaf-roller, causing no problem. The major rice pest, brown

planthopper was not found in the plot. The rice field was surrounded with sweet potato, beans,

spring onion, sweet pepper and cabbages. The farmer rotates rice with other crops each season.

55

Larger areas of rice were planted during the TTM project period and pesticides used for control

of the pests.

Sweet potato –infestation of flea beetle (Monolepta semiviolacea) and tortoise beetle (Cassida

papuana) had caused severely perforated leaves. The farmer does not know if the beetle

infestations brought any yield losses as there had been no assessments done. Sweet potato scab

was also common and affecting the shoots.

Taro – taro is rotated with other crops and always planted in new area to avoid the TB damage.

The farmer loses over 50% of the crop from the beetle damages. The farmer is very keen to grow

more taros provided he has solution to TB problem. Taro sells well at the Taro market. Although

the farmer rotates taro for every new planting, he does not have access to virgin land, like other

farmers in the area, and repeated planting of taro in same area is impossible. Despite that taro is

still grown and produces not very good quality yields.

Vegetables – both Chinese and ball cabbages were infested with DBM and LCM. Ball cabbages

were severely damaged. Although Chinese cabbages are also damaged by insect pests, it is

harvested early before full maturity to minimize losses. Beans suffer attacks from the bean pod-

sucking bug, which usually bring losses to yields. Capsicum plants did not look very healthy

with few bacterial spots. Eggplants and slippery kabis are doing well without major concern, but

occasional attacks from the shoot borer on slippery kabis are common. On pumpkin, water melon

and cucumber, pumpkin beetle (Aulacophora similis) is the most common pest with occasional

attacks from aphids.

The farmer does not use pesticides and fertilizers on his farm now. Extension has demonstrated

use of derris and chilies for control of insect pest to the farmer. The farmer used rice pesticides

and fertilizers during the TTM project, but now since they are not available, he does not use any.

The rice area has also reduced to manageable size of less than quarter ha for each cropping cycle.

Observations and outcomes from Choiseul visit

1. CPB – Choiseul and Shortland have greatest risk for introduction of CPB, since it is now

confirmed to be present in Bougainville. Following strategies needs to be considered and

adopted for prevention and preparedness for incursion of CPB:

a. Old and torn CPB posters need to be replaced with new ones. This needs to be

done regularly so that public’s attention is drawn towards the importance of CPB

b. Quarantine surveillance programme to be upgraded in the light of CPB now

present in Bougainville. Public regularly travel to and from Bougainville, which

increases the risk of CPB coming to Choiseul. A quarantine bilateral agreement

should be developed so people at both ends are aware of and movements of CPB

host plants and other materials are not moved around.

c. ERP be developed on CPB in preparedness in case CPB came into Choiseul.

d. Conduct ERP simulation workshop involving all stakeholders

2. TB – is a concern for taro production and following action is recommended:

a. Carry out participatory demonstration of taro beetle management practice

developed by SPC

3. Capacity development in pest management - training

a. Field staff lack basic skills in pest management which needs to be developed with

basic hands-on training on recognizing or identifying pests, symptoms of

damages, natural enemies and diagnosis.

b. Training on awareness of IPM concepts

c. Pesticide training on formulations, safety, application and equipment

56

d. Semi-commercial farmers need simple interventions to manage pest damages,

including use of selective pesticides

e. Active participatory activities on holistic pest management are carried out on

farmers’ field by establishing FFS for important crops to the regions.

Staff:

1. McDonnell Hiva - CFO

2. Mark Biloko - SFO (North)

3. Joe Doe - SFO (South)

4. Aldrin Soqati - SFO (East)

5. Morris Vagalo - Project Manager (Oil Palm)

Western Province

Dates of travel: 14-16/10/10

Traveling staff:

Mr. Gabriel Hiele, C2

Mr. Roy Timothy, SFO Munda

Gizo

Mile 6 farm – is a provincial farm developed to raise breeding stock and planting materials.

There aren’t many activities at the farm due to lack of resources. A small piggery with few pigs

and a honey-bee colony is maintained. A plot of mucuna, cassava and collection of few fruits are

maintained. Rice was also grown, but currently no planting of rice due to unavailability of seeds

and other inputs provided from TTM. The stock and plants are just barely maintained, otherwise

not much activities due lack of resources. A hectare of cocoa and coconut seed garden also

established to supply planting material for distribution to farmers in the region.

Gizo town – a backyard gardener in Gizo town grows vegetables and fruits, and fresh water fish.

MAL staff use this garden for conducting FFS. The gardener is concerned with the shoot borer

on his slippery kabis and requested for insecticides for control of the pest.

Ringi Field Experiment Station, Kolombangara.

This is a government owned and operated field experiment station (FES) comprising of about

100 hectares. The FES, however, is run down and needs lots of maintenance of facilities and

housing. A taro beetle demonstration field was established at the station, but due to lack of

resources for proper maintenance of the trial it has been abandoned. Red nose birds common to

the area also contributed towards destruction of the taro plants. Taro is important crop to the

region, but production is constrained by TB damages. According to the station research officer,

Mr. Roy Vaketo, the farmers are very keen to grow taro if only they can manage TB.

Ringi FES is the only place which does not have any land disputes, therefore, an ideal place to

conduct field experiments for crop development and pest management programmes.

Noro Quarantine Station

Giant African snail (GAS) was intercepted in 2009 at the wharf area where containers with

building materials for Gizo hospital coming from Lae in PNG were stored. Upon interception of

the snail, an immediate eradication programme was carried out by the quarantine staff in

collaboration with Noro wharf management and communities. Blitzem baits were placed at the

infested sites and collecting the nails which were destroyed by burning and dipping in sea water.

57

The whole wharf area was sprayed with sea water using the local fire truck. Regular blitzem

baiting and collection of snail has continued since it was first intercepted. Last record of finding

the snail was 29 June 2010, after which there has been no record of finding of dead or alive

specimens. It seems that the eradication programme was successful. Monitoring of the snail is

continued and will remain in force for a while in and around the Noro wharf and sites where the

materials were moved to.

Munda

By the time we arrived in Munda, it was approaching evening; therefore, no field visit was

possible. However, PFO Mr. Lesley Kiadapitu was available in the office to discuss about crops,

pests and their management issues in Munda.

As in other places in the province, Munda also has same range of crops with same pest problems

and issues. There, however, are few semi-commercial farmers growing vegetables and roots

crops for Munda market and hotels and resorts in the area. Some of these farmers do use

pesticides which they obtain from Honiara. As common rice farmers are requesting for pesticides

and fertilizers. Farmers’ interest in rice has declined after the TTM project.

Taro – few farmers grow taro and sell at the Munda market. Farmers generally don’t show much

interest in taro growing because of TB problem. Few farmers who were selling taro at the market

the corms had typical TB damage holes on them. Talking to the taro vendors they showed

interest in TB management and willing to participate in demonstration of control programme.

Vegetables – beans, slippery kabis, Chinese and ball cabbages are also grown and sold at the

Munda market. Diamondback moth is a major insect pest on cabbages. Few farmers have used

pesticides in the past, but they failed to control the pest, therefore, they are not using them

anymore.

Observations and outcomes from Western Province:

1. Western province has demand for local produce for sale at the local markets and hotels in

the region. Appropriate crop development and pest management issues need to be

addressed accordingly. A more concerted effort needs to assist farmers so they can better

manage the pest problems.

2. Semi-commercial growers use some pesticides; therefore, availability of selective and

effective pesticide will help the crop production systems and bring confidence in farming

of the crops important to the region.

3. Field workers and farmers need basic hands-on training in pest identification, diagnosis

and pesticide use.

Diary of Choiseul and Western Province visit

Day/Date Activities

Sunday 10/10/10 Travel Honiara to Taro; accommodation arrangements;

familiarization field visit with Mark Biloko, SFO North

Choiseul - rice mill and boat ride up the river.

Monday 11/10/10 Meeting and introduction of staff – CFO MacDonald

Hiva and other staff attending the conference; after

opening of the conference by the Acting Premier field

staff from the regions presented their progress report

58

and proposals for 2011. All day spent in the conference

Tuesday 12/10/10 Continuation of the conference; Presented Taro beetle

management package using insecticides; C2

Component presented template for work plans; staff

working on the work plan proposal.

Wednesday 13/10/10 Morning continuation of the conference on work plan;

visited Taro market. Afternoon visited vegetable field

at Rabakela.

Thursday 14/10/10 Leave Taro at 12.30pm; Arrive Gizo 2pm and met by

SFO Roy Timothy; accommodation arrangements;

visited Mile 6 Farm with Roy Timothy and SLO

Ataban Zama;

Friday 15/10/10 Boat ride from Gizo to Ringi and met by SRO Roy

Vaketo who took us to Ringi Field Experiment Station;

Discussion with Roy on the activities at Ringi; TB

demonstration field abandoned due lack to lack of

resources for maintenance and red nose bird problem.

Left Ringi and boat ride to Noro Quarantine station.

Discussion with SQO Lois Daiwo on eradication of

GAS. Left Noro and arrive Munda at 4.30pm. Meeting

with PFO Lesley Kiadapitu who gave an outline of

extension activities in Munda. Visited Munda market.

Overnight at Agnes Hotel.

Saturday 16/10/10 Leave Munda and arrive Honiara at 4pm.

Santa Cruz Island, Temotu Province

Date of visit: 19-26 October

Traveling staff

Mrs. Helen Tsatsia, Chief Research Officer (Crop Health, Plant Pathologist)

Mrs. Lily Wame, Act Chief Training Officer

Activities:

- Assist in crop protection workshop

- Farm visit to familiarize with crops, pests and pest management issues

- Meeting and discussion with field staff

- Survey and assess coconut leafminer damage

Crop Protection Workshop

The aim of the workshop was to provide basic training on pest identification, symptoms of

damage, and interventions to enable the field staff to diagnose crop problems so that they can

advice the farmers for best options for their management. The workshop was conducted using

the Crop Protection Manual developed by IPPSI project funded by ACIAR and Fact Sheets

developed by MAL.

The workshop was spread over 5 days with class room teaching, group exercises on pest

identification and diagnosis, field sampling and collection of pest specimens, sorting out of the

59

collections and group presentations. MAL staff Mrs. Helen Tsatsia and Mrs. Lily Wame

conducted the workshop with overall assistance from PMS.

General comments and observations on the training programme:

- The trainers Helen and Lily with the best of their ability made very good efforts for the

training, which was commendable.

- This was first of such kind of training workshop conducted in the province and for most of

them it was first time they had undergone training in pest identification.

- All participants valued the training very highly

Following improvements are suggested:

o Since many of the field staff do not have any formal training in pest management,

it would be better that an introduction of basic pest classification subjects should

be included.

o Trainers should have access to teaching aids such as power point projector and

other teaching materials

o Weeds and other pest groups should also form part of the training

o Pesticide management (pesticide formulations, application, measuring,

calibration, use of appropriate protective clothing and applicators, etc) can be

included

o The training needs to be extended for longer period (2 weeks) or split into

sessions

Participant List

1. Selwyn Meplu - PFO

2. Boaz Bero - SRO

3. Lionel Laura - SQO

4. Harold Bok - SFO

5. James Mwaplir - SFO

6. Mathias - SFO

7. Mary Waletsau - AFO

8. Marieta Olisia - FA

9. Patrick Maesuba - FA

10. Paul Mekimo - FA

11. Robinson Meabir - FA

12. Alfred Daiwo - FA

13. Ben Meleti - FA

14. George Kolia - FA

15. Sam Menoni - FA

Assessment of Coconut leafminer

The coconut leaf miner, Promecotheca opacicollis, is spread all over Santa Cruz Island with

pockets of severe damages. Recently, the damage levels have reduced and coconut palms are

recovering as compared to last year. Earlier in the year SPC technician with MAL plant

protection staff visited Santa Cruz Island (SCI) and conducted survey. Collections of the leaf

miner larvae were found parasitoid, probably, Pediobus parvulus. The reduction in damage level

may be attributed to the presence of the parasitoid in the leafminer population on SCI. With

buildup of the parasitoid levels, the leafminer damages are expected to reduce further. Therefore,

60

there is no need for alarm on the pest outbreak, but monitoring surveys need to be carried at six

month intervals. A thorough study on the cyclic outbreak is recommended.

Taro beetle

Taro beetle (TB), like in other provinces is a major concern for taro growers on SCI. Few

farmers are using mustang (formulation of imidacloprid) for control of TB. In a casual discussion

with a taro grower he revealed using icon (Lambda-Cyhalothrin), insecticide used for malaria

control and supplied to communities by the SIG health service. According to the farmer he finds

icon giving control, but still loses lots of taro from TB damages. The prominent taro grower on

SCI, Mr. Michael Lano, currently has over 7000 taro ready for harvest. He has applied

imidacloprid only once to his field.

Farmers know the benefits of insecticide applications for TB management, but current practices

are not followed according to the SPC recommendations. This may set wrong trend for mis-use

of the insecticides and lead to over or under use of the insecticides, hence ineffective control

levels. The early maturing (6-7 months) selfish taro is the preferred variety of taro on Santa Cruz,

which fits in well with the current SPC recommendations on the use of 2 insecticides,

imidacloprid and bifenthrin.

It is recommended that the use of this insecticide be properly demonstrated to the taro growers

with emphasis on proper handling procedures, application rates, mixing, application methods and

safety aspect of the insecticides. This can be done on a farmer’s field with active participation of

taro growers on SCI.

Rice Development Programme

Field tests are underway at Takila farm for the testing of performance of about 130 varieties of

rice imported from the Philippines. Thirty varieties are currently undergoing second phase of

testing. According to field staff the only observation they are recording is performance of the

varieties against BPH. There were some doubts raised on the method of recording of the data, as

field staff themselves were not very clear what they were supposed to do. Extension felt that

research staff at Santa Cruz should also be involved in such trials.

Vegetables – visit to SCI plateau to familiarize vegetable production system and pest

management issues. The range of vegetables is same as in other provinces with similar pest

problems. DBM, LCM and aphids are a concern on Chinese and ball cabbages. Shoot borer is an

occasional pest on slippery kabis, but there is no problem of the flea beetle (Nisotra basellae),

which is not yet present on SCI. Bean pod-sucking bug (Riptortus sp) however, is a problem for

bean production.

Observations and outcomes or recommendations:

1. TB – demonstration of the SPC package be carried out in active participatory approach on

rates of application, frequency, methods, and safety aspects.

2. Coconut leaf miner – six monthly monitoring surveys to study the bioagent activities and

level of damages.

3. Conduct pesticide management training for staff and farmers

4. Properly labeled TB insecticides (imidacloprid and bifenthrin) are made available to

farmers.

5. Quarantine practices strengthened to keep away pests like Nisotra, GAS, etc.

6. Active participatory approaches for pest management be developed and implemented.

Day/Date Activities

61

Tuesday 19/10/10 Honiara to Lata; arrived Lata at 10.30am and checked

in at Lata Motel; afternoon meeting with PFO Selwyn

to make arrangements and logistics for the workshop.

Familiarizing tour of nearby field.

Wednesday 20/10/10 Workshop: Introductions – IPPSI training manual and

MAL factsheets; diseases and symptoms; group work

plant pests of crops in Temotu; disease cycles;

introduction to insect pests and group work

Thursday 21/10/10 Field collection of plant pests on taro, vegetables and

rice at 3 farms; visit taro fields applied with

insecticides; Takila farm where Phil rice varieties

under field tests.

Friday 22/10/10 Morning - sorting out of collections – description of

pests, stages doing damage and symptoms. Afternoon

group presentations

Saturday 23/10/10 Lecture on insect classification of major orders; group

work on possible interventions and presentations

Sunday 24/10/10 Field visits to Santa Cruz plateau and coastal areas to

survey coconut leaf miner and other pests of crops

Monday 25/10/10 Continuation of workshop – group work on pests of

specific crops and interventions. Workshop evaluation

and end of workshop

Tuesday 26/10/10 Return to Honiara

Central Region, Malaita Province

Dates of visit: 7-10 November

Activities:

- Conduct meetings and discussion with field staff

- Visit project field sites and farms to familiarize with extension and research work on pest

management

- Discuss with officers the existing programmes and performance of extension and research

activities

- Assess current capacity and possibility of improvements of extension and research on pest

management

- Visit MAL crop development projects and meet farmers and communities

- Visit Dala FES and Training Centre

- Survey of pesticide available in Auki

Meetings and discussion with staff in Auki:

Victor Kaihou (CFO Malaita Province) – Victor briefed on the MAL activities in

Malaita and assigned 2 officers Ellison Toramo (Extension Officer) and Robert

Tate’e (Research Officer) who arranged all field visits and discussions while in Auki.

Augustine Tiuti - Rice Coordinator, Malaita Province

o Overall rice interest on Malaita has declined.

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o Four rice mills were set up of which only 2 are operating.

o Brown planthopper (BPH) is the main pest and farmers find it difficult to

control.

o Orthene which was originally supplied by TTM is widely used by farmers, but

in many cases it has failed to control BPH.

o Under NRRDP, 90 varieties of rice from Philippines have been planted to test

their performance under Malaita conditions and programmed to evaluate

further of the promising varieties. These are targeted for small holder upland

rice.

List of project sites and farms visited

FIU farmers association (FFA) – 5 ha of rice farm was developed under the TTM

rice project with inputs of rice seeds, fertilizer and pesticides and water pump for

irrigation. Three hectares of last crop of rice was lost due to BPH burn despite

regular sprays with Orthene. The field has been abandoned and covered with

weeds. Since the loss of 3 hectares, the farmer association has lost interest in

growing rice on larger areas and has just restarted planting rice on a smaller scale

of manageable size of rice field. Currently a small field of about 200 square

metres just transplanted with IR64 variety of rice. According to the secretary of

the farm association, the farm diversified into planting of sweet potato, water

melon and vegetables. The land, however, is waterlogged and may not be suitable

for vegetables and root crops, unless proper drainage system is developed.

Asia Pacific Sustainable Development (APSD) – is a Japanese funded NGO

training centre in sustainable farming systems. APSD does not use any chemical

fertilizers or pesticides. Soil fertility is maintained by compost and PDPs used for

pest control. The agricultural trainer, however, realizes that composting and PDPs

are only suitable for small scale farming. The land is all flat and prone to water

logging. According to the trainer Mr. Allan Kisi, only overseas varieties of crops

are grown at the centre. Trainees are expected to have the knowledge of local

crops.

i. Rice – about 2 hectares of rice field is used for student project and

training. Rice is grown in same field continuously season after season.

Land preparation is done by machine (power tiller), but all other activities

planting, weeding and harvesting are done manually. For pest control

during times of outbreak of BPH, Barringtonia asiatika (Dadao) fruit is

used. Dadao fruit is macerated and soaked in water for few days. The

concentrate is mixed with water and sprayed onto rice aiming base of the

plants. Soil fertility is maintained by adding compost. The rice plants

didn’t look very healthy (lack of nitrogen), but also didn’t have much pest

problem either, (just light infestation of leaf rollers), which did not require

pesticide use for pest control.

ii. Water melon - plot suffered water logging during heavy rains hence the

plants and fruits did not look very healthy. For insect control glyricidia

and ash have been used. There may have been problem of pollination, the

droopy symptoms of fruits.

iii. Ball and pakchoy cabbages – were both attacked by DBM and LCM. Ball

cabbages suffer more damages as they are in the ground longer. PDPs

63

from derris and chilies have been used but did not seem to have much

effect on the pests.

iv. Beans – as in other places the pod-sucking bug (Riptortus sp.) is common

and difficult to control.

v. Tomatoes – occasional pest of fruit worm, leaf miner, aphids and mites

were observed

vi. Composting – uses all local materials

1. Bokasi - is prepared from the rice bran mixed with poultry manure

and other organic refuse and fermented to breakdown into usable

form.

The APSD rice field is neighbouring FFA rice field. At APSD there has been no application of

Orthene and had no outbreak of BPH like in FFA rice. This suggests that Orthene is an

ineffective insecticide against BPH, which brings in more harm than good for rice pest

management. Experiments may need to be conducted to prove this.

Field Experiment Station and Training Centre at Dala – there aren’t many

activities at the station and the station is barely maintained. The centre is run

down which needs to be rehabilitated to make it functional. There are small plots

of taro, sweet potato and slippery kabis collection which need to be properly

maintained and weeded. The centre has good potential to carry out field

experiments for Malaita Province.

Naligaragara Vocational Training Centre has fields of eggplant, beans, slippery

kabis, taro and a nursery. Some of the fields are overgrown with weeds.

According to Brandon Maomaigizo the main problem of taro is the taro beetle.

There is lot of interest in taro but the TB is the limiting factor for growing more

taros. Nisotra basellae is major problem of slippery kabis.

Naligaragara training centre will be a good site for demonstration of the TB IPM package in

Auki.

Water melon farm at Kakara. This is one of the major water melon growing areas

in Malaita. The farm visited was of Mr. James Kaine who grows water melon

every year so that harvest coincides with Christmas. The farmer sprays Orthene

and farmacon (Cyhalothrin) every week probably for the control of watermelon

beetle (Aulacophora similis) and watermelon worm (Diaphania indica). The

melon plants were clean of insect infestation and only few beetles were noticed

hovering over the leaves. The plants overall looked healthy but did not have many

flowers and fruits. The melon seeds were obtained from TTM. Insecticides are

obtained from local pesticide retailer or brought from Honiara. Many fruit were

deformed probably due to lack of full pollination because of heavy rains during

the flowering or absence of pollinators due to prophylactic insecticide uses. There

were also spots on the lower leaves (probably gummy blight) and may have arisen

from too much recent rain.

Gwaunafiu Farmer Field School (GFFS) was established in partnership with

Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) with funding from AusAID under the

64

Community Sector Programme (CSP). GFFS is situated on the bank of upper Fiu

River and accessible only by walking down a very steep hill. The aim of GFFS is

to demonstrate organic methods of farming, multiplication of planting materials

and seeds and to practice FFS in Busurata area. GFFS area is heavily leached soil

and lacks humous. The centre has demonstration crop plots on terracing planted

with vetivar to protect soil erosion. Mucuna planted as fallow crop has

demonstrated to improve soil fertility and humous. Crops such as beans,

cabbages, sweet potato and others planted after mucuna seem to yield better.

PDPs such as chilies, derris and sour sop are used for control of pests.

Mr. Lionel Ganu has spread the idea of using the lipstick (Bixa) plant which attracts the

bean pod-sucking bug, and avoids the beans , a possible control of the pest. According to

the community in the area, it has been noticed that insects are attracted to the Bixa seeds,

but it is not known whether the insects attracted are the bean pod-sucking bug or other

insects.

Use of Bixa plant as a trap plant for control of bean pod-sucking bug needs to be studied

to substantiate the myth surrounding its attractiveness to the pest. The plant seeds attract

the bug which is seasonal. If the plant proves to be attractive to the bug, planting lot of

Bixa may lead it to become a weed.

CAUTION: Emphasis at GFFS and such other farms in SI are on the use of PDPs. Side

effects of PDPs are not fully understood, therefore, their use should also be restricted

unless they have been fully studied.

John Sala is a prominent vegetable farmer in Busurata. He has stopped growing

ball cabbages due to pest problems which are difficult manage. He continues

growing pakchoy which do get pest infestation but less than ball cabbages.

Kwualo, Lalita and Admiral Information centre – care taker Mr. Hensley showed

the planting of pakchoy on bamboo terraces. The information centre used to grow

ball cabbages but stopped due to pest problem. The centre is also interested in

taro, but TB is the limiting factor.

Isaac farm at Aisalinga, Busurata trans-insular road – the farmer grows ball and

Chinese cabbages, slippery kabis, beans, tomato, pepper, corn, cucumber,

cassava, sweet potato and taro. Pest problems are: ball and Chinese cabbages –

DBM, LCM with occasional attacks of aphids; slippery kabis is attacked by

Nisotra beetle; pepper by aphids and occasionally bacterial spots; beans by the

pod-sucking bug; tomato only occasionally by fruit worm, mites and leaf miner;

cucumber occasionally by cucumber worm; sweet potato by flea and tortoise

beetle; taro by TB, which has discouraged the farmer not to grow much, it needs

to be grown in new areas out in new bush and far from the house. Karate is the

only insecticide used for all pest control on all crops. It is obtained either from

Auki retailer or from Honiara.

Slippery kabis farms at Gwailiki – are situated along the main road out of Auki.

Many farmers grow slippery kabis and other vegetables for Auki market.

Discussions with a farmer in the area, Mr. Richard Laikalia, who grows 3

65

varieties of slippery kabis and needs to spray Orthene regularly (perhaps weekly

sprays) to control Nisotra beetle.

Auki fresh produce market was visited to check on the range of produce on sale.

All local produce such as bananas, slippery kabis, cassava, cucumber,

watermelon, sweet potatoes, gnally nut, peanut, eggplants, Borneo cabbage,

pumpkin, pineapple and 2 farmers selling taro. Taros they were selling were of

very low quality, with beetle holes and comparatively expensive.

2. Findings from the Auki trip:

There are significant pest management issues in Malaita especially in Auki. There

are a number of commercial farmers (in SI context) who are growing crops for

sale at Auki and Honiara markets. A number of pests, especially insects, are

prevalent on these crops and do significant damage if not managed. All

commercial farmers are using pesticides for the pest control. Insecticides used are

broad-spectrum, which in some cases are in-effective against the target pests.

Many farmers are discouraged to grow some of the crops due to pest problem and

as they have no solution for their management.

i. Ball cabbages get severe infestations of DBM and LCM;

ii. Taro beetle is a major constrain of taro growers, taro patches are always

planted in new area away in bush land to avoid TB damage. Planting of

taro in new bush land is hard work. Many farmers don’t make any effort to

grow taro. All farmers visited are interested in planting taro but only if

there is a solution to TB problem.

iii. Bean pod-sucking bug is a common problem.

iv. Nisotra beetle and shoot borer on Slippery kabis are problems faced by the

farmers. Slippery kabis is a common leaf vegetable and source of cash

crop for many farmers. All commercial growers use insecticides for

control of the insect pests. Developments of IPM approaches are important

to address this long term problem.

v. According to the Malaita Province rice coordinator, rice planting and

production has declined. The reasons for the decline in farmer interest are,

no further inputs are supplied by TTM, breakdown of machinery and rice

mills and control of pests, especially BPH outbreaks. From experience and

observations rice production needs good land preparation and water

management. Both are lacking in Malaita and elsewhere in SI. Pest control

should not be depended on prophylactic uses of one insecticide, but an

IPM approach and better understanding of beneficial organisms and pest

relationship in rice field.

vi. Watermelon is a common small holder commercial crop in Malaita.

Pesticides are mostly used on calendar basis. There is an opportunity for

development of IPM approaches for watermelons.

Dala training centre and field experiment station centre can be used for crop

development and pest management programme needs of MP. Research and

extension working together can develop good link with farmers and communities

in MP.

66

Some of the Mal staff at Auki have participated in pest identification training

organised by the IPPSI project, but their capacity on pest management

approaches, status of local pests and their associated problems, knowledge, skill

and practice of pesticides are rather limited. There is also limited access to pest

management information and resources

3. Other observations:

A large number of public and materials move in and out of Auki. There is great

risk for introduction of new pests, especially Giant African Snail (GAS), from

Honiara. Quarantine surveillance needs to be organized to monitor all travelers

and materials from Honiara for GAS. Wet conditions and lush greenery in Auki is

very conducive for quick establishment of GAS, once it’s gets in there.

Internal quarantine measures are difficult, but considering the pest nature of GAS, it is pertinent

to keep vigilance to avoid introduction of GAS to Auki. Cocoa is very important to MP;

therefore, similar actions are also needed for the cocoa pod borer.

4. Follow up activities required for MP :

Capacity development in pest management – staff training workshop needs to be

conducted on pest identification and symptoms of damage, beneficial organisms

and their uses, pest management intervention, physical and cultural controls, IPM

concepts and approaches, pesticides – categories, classification, formulation,

uses, application and safety; use and maintenance of pesticide application

equipment.

Conduct two week training workshop using IPPSI pest management and SPC pesticide

application guidelines

Provision of basic pest management equipment – field lenses, magnifying

glasses, collecting tubes with preservatives, insect collecting nets, and collecting

nest; establish a field laboratory equipped with field microscope.

Carry participatory demonstration on the use of the recommended insecticides for

taro beetle – probably at the Naligaragara vocational training centre

Evaluate other control options for TB, such as uses of coleus in taro gardens

Establish rice fields to gather information on seasonality of rice pests and their

natural enemies

Develop rice FFS based on monitoring studies and information gathered

Carry out field experiments to evaluate BT and new insecticides to develop

Brassica IPM programme

Establish ball cabbage field to study the seasonality of cabbage pests and their

natural enemies.

Information gathered from the insecticide evaluation and field monitoring studies will provide

information to develop Brassica IPM programme.

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Day/Date Activities

Sunday 07/11/10 Honiara to Auki; Picked from airport by CFO Mr.

Victor and checked in at Rarasu Motel

Monday 08/11/10 Briefing by CFO on RDP activities in Malaita;

Assigned 2 officers SEO Ellison Toramo and SRO

Robert Tate’e for field visits and facilitations; visited

Fiu Farmers Association rice and vegetable project;

APSD training centre; Naligaragara vocational training

centre; Kakara watermelons growers; pesticide survey

at retailing outlets in Auki

Tuesday 09/11/10 Visits to Gwaunafiu Farmer Field School; Busurata

vegetable growers; Kwalo Lalita Information Centre

vegetable garden

Wednesday 10/11/10 Visit slippery kabis growers at Aisalinga; discussions

with growers and pest management approaches on

slippery kabis. Return to Honiara in the evening.

Honiara, Guadalcanal Province

Activities

- Consultations, meetings and discussions with MAL HQ staff, plant protection staff,

relevant project staff (e.g. CLIP)

- Visits of farm and organizations

- Survey of pesticides

- Attend meeting and workshops

Meetings A meeting was held with the Director of Research (DOR) and plant protection staff to brief them

about the purpose of Pest Management Plan. DOR and his staff were very cooperative in PMS

activities. Plant Protection staff were often consulted on pest management issues. Most of the

field visits were accompanied by PP staff and assisted in pesticides surveys.

Meetings with the Quarantine Director were useful on quarantine matters and staff arranged for

visit to field for GAS work eradication programme.

Occasional meetings and discussions were also held with other staff such as Senior Adviser and

Information section (library) staff.

Visit to Kastom Gaden Association

Visited the Kastom Gaden Association (KGA) premises at the Burns Creek with MAL PP staff

to observe and discuss the activities of the organization’s organic methods of pest management.

The manager Mr. Jack Kalisto was very friendly and cooperative. KGA is and NGO established

to promote local crops and methods of growing of crops and conduct outreach training of the

community.

68

Visit to Guadalcanal Plains Palm Oil Limited (GPPOL)

The visit to GPPOL was to discuss with the Plantation Manager, Mr. Wilfred, on the operations

of pesticides in use at the plantation. GPPOL uses only herbicides to manage the weeds. The

herbicides in use are Glyphosate and paraquat. Both herbicides are imported from Farmset in

PNG and carry PNG label. The herbicides are kept in a specially designed pesticide store in the

pesticide operations building which is surrounded by a moat to capture spills while mixing and

preparation of sprays. Pesticides spills are captured in an underground storage tank.

The spraying is done mostly by women. At the time of the visit to GPPOL, spraying was

underway by a group of women who were in their normal clothing, although the company

provides overalls and other safety spraying equipment.

According to Wilfred, paraquat will be faced out to comply with the requirements of the

Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Use of Glyphosate will also reduce as they progress

more on uses of alternate methods of weed management. Some of the alternate methods of weed

control in practice are mulching, using stalks of nuts and fronds, and cover plants such as

centrosema and other legumes.

Visit to a prominent Vegetable farmer and fruit grower in the Western Guadalcanal. The

farmer Mr. John grows a variety of vegetables, root crops, fruits and rice. Taro is also grown but

away in the bush and shifted around to TB damage. A very keen and enthusiastic farmer with lot

of interest in farming and grows crops for sale at Honiara market. It seems the farmer is not very

happy with the level of advice that he gets from MAL.

Visit to taro farm in Guadalcanal plains

The farm that was visited grows taro for Honiara market. The variety grown is early maturing

PNG variety. According the farmer Mrs. Rose, taro field is shifted around the farm every season

to avoid TB damage. The farmer is keen to grow more taros if TB problem can be solved. Over

50% of the yield is lost due to TB damages.

Honiara market – a regular visit was made to market to survey produce on sale and interview

some of the vendors. Most common produce in the market are slippery kabis, sweet potato, yard

long beans, watercress, and fruits in season (mangoes, pawpaw, bananas, guavas, water melons,

etc). Only few stalls sold taro which were of poor quality and very expensive. When asked only

few stated that they use chemicals to control insect pests. Many were reluctant to reveal control

measures.

Observations

Honiara market is the centre for fresh produce and attracts large crowd of buyers and the produce

sell well. There is a potential to increase taro sales in the market. Taro is a traditional crop and

important dietary requirement and a staple food for Solomon Islanders. However, it is not readily

available in markets due the established and serious beetle problem. Solution to TB problem may

see increase of sales for general public.

Attendance to meetings and workshops in Honiara

69

A two day meeting was organized by Cocoa Livelihood and Improvement Project (CLIP) which

I attended in Honiara. Dr John Konam, coordinator of Integrated Pest and Disease Management

(IPDM) presented his findings on management of the cocoa black pod disease. According to him

good management practice and farm hygiene can reduce incidences of the disease and disease

can be managed without use of fungicide. The management strategies and farm hygiene is being

implemented with participatory approaches.

Dr Konam also highlighted the importance of the cocoa pod borer (CPB) to cocoa industry in SI.

It is vital to avoid introduction of the CPB and all efforts should be taken by all stakeholders of

cocoa industries.

Systems of Rice Intensification (SRI) workshop for Provincial Rice Coordinators

Venue – ROC/TTM Farm, Honiara

A 3 day workshop was organized by the SI National Rice Development Programme. A SRI

specialist from Indonesia conducted workshop on SRI and demonstrated use of liquid fertilizer

produced from local crops refuse.

Comments of SRI – it is a good concept for smallholder rice farmers. Although SI rice farms are

all smallholder, lack of provisions for basic rice cultivation requirements such as good water

management, land preparation by small machines or drafts animals, etc.

Participants:

1. Belden Taki - Deputy Director Extension

2. Edward Horiharuna - Deputy Director Projects

3. Willie Tuita - CFO, NRRDP Operations

4. Allen Ramolelea - CFO, Urban City

5. Mary Fa’alimae - PFO, Malaita Province

6. Lesley Kiadapitu - PFO, Western Province

7. Hezekiah Vahimama - Principal Rice Coordinator (PRC), Isabel

8. Selwyn Meplu - PRC, Temotu

9. Alphonse Punia - PRC, Makira

10. George Suhara - PRC, Central

11. Mark Biloko - PRC, Choiseul

12. Willie Ninivae - PRC, RenBel

13. Edward Bosali - PRC, Guadalcanal

14. Moses Misi - Rice Machinery Operator & Mechanic/NRRDP

15. Gilson Tereah - Rice Technician/NRRDP

16. Thomas Kaoni - Farm Manger/St. Joseph Tenaru School

17. Joseph Toferana - Principal/St. Martins RTC

18. Joseph S - Deputy Principal/Don Bosco RTC, Tetere

19. David Bua - Procurement Officer/Extension Services, MAL

20. Caroline Houkuru - AFO, Women’s Extension, MAL

21. Vanita Pelemo - FA

Others

70

22. Hon. Selwyn Riumama - Minister of Agriculture and Livestock

23. Edward Kingmele - PS, MAL

24. John M. Harunari - US (Technical), MAL

25. Emily Teitala - US (admin), MAL

26. Joshi Ravindra - Senior Advisor, MAL

27. Jacqueline Qaloboe - HRM, MAL

28. Billy Toate’e - CA, MAL

29. W.H. Lin - Rice Specialist, TTM

30. Mark Johnston - RDP/MAL

31. Gabriel Hiele - RDP/MAL

32. Douglas Moh - Chief, TTM

33. Michael Ho’ota - Director, Extension

34. Jimi Saelea - Director, Research

35. Barnabas Kenga - Director, Livestock

36. Frank Maeaba - Director, Planning

37. Patterson Akipu - Director, Quarantine

Visit to Giant African Snail (GAS) eradication sites

Visit was made to sites at Ranadi, the site where GAS was first intercepted and to Foxwood,

about 3 km out of away from Ranadi. Quarantine ran out of Blitzem pellet, so currently the

eradication team is clearing the vegetation, collecting all the stages of GAS and destroying them

by burning. Gas is collected in thousands. At Foxwood Gas is found everywhere, on plants,

under the decaying logs, under the thick ground cover of weeds, on tree trunks. The collections

are all very healthy suggesting there is no natural or any other agent that has any effect on

breeding. The eradication programme has been in operation for over 4 years, despite which the

pest has spread to new areas.

Pesticide surveys

There are two hardware companies who import and sell agricultural, timber treatment and

household pesticides in Honiara. All pesticides are imported in ready-to-use formulations,

packaged and labeled from Australia, New Zealand or PNG. There are rumours that some

pesticides are repacked and sold at local markets. Household pesticides as aerosols, mosquito

coils, insect and rat baits are also available from local supermarkets. Vector control against

malaria and dengue fever pesticides are imported and distributed to communities. Pesticides used

by quarantine are limited to aerosols, but recently Metaldehyde (Blitzem pellets) was imported

and used for the Giant African Snail eradication programme.

TTM also sells pesticides and seeds at a reduced price. Most of the farmers buy their needs from

here.

Pesticides importers know that they are required to register all pesticides imported into the

country, but they are not concerned as there is no enforcement of the regulation. When asked for

list of pesticides, they decline to give. A list of pesticide on display at the 2 major dealers, Island

Enterprise and Farmset Limited, is attached as Appendix 4.

Day/Date Activities

14/09/10 Arrive Honiara from NZ via Nadi (overnight in Nadi; Picked up by C2

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Component coordinator and taken to Iron Bottom Sound Hotel.

15/09/10 Staff introduction at MAL and RDP PCU; banking and make other

arrangements

16-17/09/10 Consult literature and reading of RDP documents

20-21/09/10 Attended CLIP meeting/workshop

22/09/10 Office – consulting RDP documents

23/09/10 Meeting with DOR and senior staff on pesticides and pest management

activities

24/09/10 Meeting with plant protection staff

27/09/10 Visit GPPOL

28/09/10 Pesticide registration

29/09 – 01/10/10 Attend SRI workshop at TTM

04-09/10/10 Consultations and literature search

10-16/10 Visited Choiseul and Western Province

17-18/10 Office/consultations

19-26/10 Visited Temotu – workshop/training, field visit

27/10-6/11 Consultations, pesticide surveys, meetings

07-10//11 Visit central Malaita

16-23/11 SPC consultations

24-30/11 Consultations, farms visits, office

1-13/12 Report writing

14-15/12 Travel back to NZ via Nadi.

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Appendix 2:

Terms of Reference

Agricultural pest management Specialist – Solomon Islands Rural Development Program Ref: C2.? (Procurement Plan: C/n.)

Description

Sr. Agricultural pest management Specialist based in MAL. Reporting to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL)

Key tasks and responsibilities

In consultation with the project Task Team Leader (TTL) RDP and MAL, the Consultant will prepare a

Pest Management Plan (PMP), addressing the following 4 major issues, namely:

(a) Pest management approaches

(b) Pesticide use and management

(c) Policy, regulatory Framework and institutional capacity, and

(d) Monitoring and evaluation

Details of these components are elaborated on in the “Annotated Terms of Reference for the

preparation of a Pest Management Plan (PMP) for SI RDP (for the compliance with OP 4.09 and

BP 4.01 - Annex C) document” attached.

Duration

3 months.

Required qualifications/attributes

The consultant will be specialized in one or more of the following fields:

(a) Agricultural pest management in the tropics or subtropics, with particular experience in

(participatory) integrated pest management (IPM).

(b) Pesticide management in developing countries, with particular experience in pesticide

legislation and regulation, pesticide risk assessment and registration, and the

enforcement/implementation of pesticide regulations.

(c) Pest management extension methods and/or participatory integrated crop production, pest

management.

(d) Agricultural policy development in developing countries, with particular experience in

integrated pest management policies and the economic, trade and fiscal aspects of agricultural

input use (particularly pesticides).

The consultant will have experience in the identification and the analysis of technical and policy

constraints with respect to agricultural projects/programs in developing countries.

73

She/he should be capable of working, using a strongly participatory approach, with the MAL staff

and senior management.

Experience in the Pacific Region would be preferred;

Good knowledge of the World Bank safeguard policies and procedures would be an asset;

Interest in working in multi-cultural environment.

Annotated Terms of Reference for the preparation of a Pest

Management Plan (PMP) for SI RDP

(for the compliance with OP 4.09 and BP 4.01 - Annex C)

1. Background

The specific objective of the Solomon Islands Rural Development Project (SI RDP) Component

2 is to improve access of smallholder households in the Solomon Islands to quality agricultural

services to support rural income growth.

The use of pesticides may contribute to increased agricultural production and improved human

health. However, inappropriate or excessive use of pesticides often results in a reduction of

agricultural production or its sustainability, increases in disease vectors, adverse environmental

and health effects, and negative effects on other economic activities (e.g. fisheries, tourism). This,

in turn, leads to increased economic costs, both at the farmer level and for the country as a whole.

Most of the food crops grown in the Solomon Islands are produced on a substance or semi-

substance level without the use of external inputs. As such synthetic pesticides currently do not

figure highly among the priorities of Solomon Island farmers, they are generally not available,

except in the major centres, and if available they are too expensive. This is not necessarily a bad

thing, as indicated in the above paragraph there can be negative effects of use of chemicals on the

environment, human health and economics. Pesticides are commonly used in rice production and

for vegetables grown for the major markets such as Honiara. It is often reported that the

chemicals are applied in an indiscriminately to these crops and application is based on crop

calendars irrespective of the pest occurrence or levels. Other examples where the use of

pesticides may be justifiably required in the Solomon Islands are:

the use of a neonicotinoid insecticide (imidacloprid) for taro beetle control,

rat poisons when rat numbers get out of control such as is currently the case in North Malaita,

the possible need for an insecticidal intervention in Reef Islands in Temotu for yellow crazy

ant management and

eradication or controlling new exotic pests such as the Giant African Snail and possibly the

Cocoa Pod Borer.

Fungicide applications may be used in high yielding cocoa plantations.

Herbicides are applied extensively in palm oil plantations.

The World Bank’s Pest Management Safeguard Policy (OP 4.09 and BP 4.01 Annex C) was

established to address these concerns and to assist borrowers to manage pests in an appropriate

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manner. A major provision of the Safeguard Policy is the preparation of a comprehensive Pest

Management Plan, or PMP, that will outline the various elements of and actions needed to be

taken to adequately address these concerns during project implementation.

2. Objectives of the Pest Management Plan

According to Annex C of BP 4.01, a Pest Management Plan is a "comprehensive plan, developed

when there are significant pest management issues.

The rapidly growing population, the extensive logging of forests and the need for cash incomes

by farmers in the Solomon Islands is resulting in changes in farming systems that are likely to

result in significant pest management issues including:

(a) intensification of existing low-technology systems

(b) new land-use development or changed cultivation practices ,

(c) significant expansion into new areas,

(d) diversification into new crops in agriculture, and

(e) Specific environmental or health concerns (e.g., proximity to environmentally sensitive areas

such as important aquatic resources; worker safety and pesticide residues in foods).

With respect to its objectives and execution, BP 4.01 - Annex C stipulates that: "A pest

management plan reflects the policies set out in OP 4.09, Pest Management. The plan is designed

to minimize potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment and to advance

ecologically based Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The plan is based on on-site evaluations

of local conditions conducted by appropriate technical specialists with experience in participatory

IPM."

4. Procedures

(a) The PMP is developed as part of the Environmental Assessment (EA)

This Pest Management Plan is developed as part of the Environmental Assessment which is

presently elaborated for the project. According to BP 4.01 - Annex C: "the EA covers potential

issues related to pest management and considers appropriate alternative designs or mitigation

measures. Depending on the issues identified, the environmental management plan includes a

pest management plan."

(b) The PMP is developed during project implementation, i.e. after adoption of the PAD

While formally the PMP is to be developed as part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) of the

project, this has not been the case. However, during project execution it became apparent that

significant pest management issues have to be addressed in the project. Therefore, this PMP was

still commissioned.

4. Contents of the Pest Management Plan

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In consultation with the project Task Team Leader (TTL), the RDP Team-

leader, and Component 2 Coordinator and Implementation Advisor and the

Ministry of Agriculture staff, the Consultant will prepare the PMP,

addressing the following 5 major issues, namely:

(a) Pest management approaches

(b) Pesticide use and management

(c) Policy, regulatory Framework and institutional capacity, and

(d) Monitoring and evaluation

(e) Budget

Details of these components may be elaborated upon as follows:

4a. Pest or vector management approaches

(a) Current and anticipated pest problems, relevant to the project

(b) Current and proposed pest management practices

(c) Relevant IPM experience within the project area, country or region.

(d) Assessment of proposed or current pest management approaches, and recommendations for

adjustment where necessary.

4b. Pesticide use and management

(i) Review of present, proposed and/or envisaged pesticide use.

Compile a list of pesticides in use in the country and the crops for which

they are used.

Classify the (commercial formulations of the) pesticides according to the

WHO classification of pesticides by hazard.

Describe the current pesticide use patterns in the country and assess

whether pesticides are used in the context of IPM.

(ii) Indication of type and quantity of pesticides envisaged to be financed by the project

and/or assessment of increase in pesticide use resulting from the project.

(iii) Circumstances of pesticide use and the capability and competence of end-users to

handle products within acceptable risk margins

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(iv) Selection of pesticides authorized for procurement under the project

If required, prepare provisional lists of pesticides which may be procured under

the project taking into consideration (i) the criteria in OP 4.09 on Pest

Management, (ii) the above hazards and risks, and (iii) the availability of newer

and less hazardous products and techniques (e.g. bio-pesticides, traps)

4c. Policy, regulatory framework and institutional capacity

(i) Policies on plant protection

Study if a national IPM Policy exists and determine whether it is integrated into the

national agricultural development policy/strategy.

(ii) Description and assessment of the national capacity to develop and implement

ecologically-based IPM

(iii) Assessment of the country's regulatory framework for control of the distribution and use

of pesticides.

(iv) Assessment of the institutional capacity for effective control of the distribution and use

of pesticides.

4d. Strengthening of national capacities

If necessary, propose an action plan containing appropriate measures, in project sub-

components, to strengthen the national capacities to improve the regulatory system for

pesticides, and implement ecologically sound management of pests and vectors.

4e. Monitoring and evaluation

(i) Description of activities that require local monitoring during implementation and

during supervision missions.

(ii) Monitoring and supervision plan, implementation responsibilities, required expertise

and cost coverage.

5. Process

For the Pest Management Plan to be accepted as part of the project, it is essential that it is fully

supported by the Borrower and other national key actors. A lack of ownership by the interested

parties will preclude effective implementation of the plan. Therefore, the development of the

PMP should, like the development of the rest of the project, be a fully participatory process in

which the consultant acts as a facilitator and a technical resource person.