Sanitary and Phytosanitary Risk Management (Sps)

Orchard management and Global GAP Good agricultural practices and orchard management according to the guidelines developed by the relevant government organizations

Orchard management includes but is not limited to site selection, selection of true to type seedlings, orchard layout, planting, soil and nutrition management, irrigation, pruning, fruit bagging, pest management, and ground covers

Strict year round pest monitoring and farm management

•      Initiates to develop pest growth models immediately after harvest and continue it till product gets ready to harvest

•      Close pest monitoring and data recording

•      Develop management strategies according to pest populations

Good agricultural practices key requirements

•      Complete control and monitoring system

•      Documentation

•      Traceability

•      Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

•      Safe use Plant protection products (PPP)

•      Workers safety, hygiene and welfare

Significance of field sanitation

•      To control pest at pupal stage

•      To minimize pest breeding sites

•      Mandatory on weekly basis

•      Ownership of growers

Pests and Disease Management

•      Undesirable insects, diseases and fungal pathogens can infest the peach tree (Prunus persica), leaving you scrambling to treat the problem.

•      While you can use chemical pesticides, they're not necessarily the best option because they may contain harsh toxins that prove harmful to people, pets and wildlife. Instead, use organic pest control methods to successfully and safely treat the peach tree.

•      Keeping the ground below peach trees weeded and clear of fallen fruit does more than neaten your garden It also reduces the risk of insects getting a foothold into your tree. Weeds play host to the class of insects which pierce the skin of peaches and suckle the juices. In addition, pick up fallen peaches as soon as possible. Beetles lay eggs in developing peaches. The next generation then hatches, feeds on the fruit and burrows into the soil to continue developing until it is time to begin feeding on your hanging fruit once more.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Strategy

Ø  IPM is “a comprehensive approach to pest management that uses a combination of cultural, biological, and chemical controls to reduce the status of pests to tolerable levels while maintaining a quality environment”. IPM attempts to combine appropriate and effective pest management tactics to target the problem pests in a crop or other system.

Ø  . IPM combines knowledge of pest biology, control, ecology, economics, and environmental factors to develop crop production and pest management choices for the grower. IPM is an important component of a sustainable farm system

Key Factors of IPM Concept

IPM has broad application

Ø  Can be applied to any ecosystem.

Ø   Can be applied to any type of pest (insect, disease, weed, vertebrate, etc.)

Ø   IPM emphasizes an understanding of the system and pests

Ø   Knowledge of total system (e.g., profitable orchard management practices)

Ø   Knowledge of pest biology and ecology . IPM integrate multiple pest management tactics (biological, cultural, chemical, etc.)

Ø  Management of multiple types of pests (weed, disease, insect, nematode, vertebrate, etc.)

Key Steps In an IPM Program

• Proper identification of the pest or problem —

       Before deciding to take any pest control action, be sure you have correctly identified the pest (insect, mite, disease, weed, vertebrate, etc.) or problem (nutrient deficiency, water imbalance, etc.). Proper identification is essential for determining if control is necessary and for selection of the best-suited control options.

 • Monitor for pests and injury caused by pests or problem — It is very important to look for pests and injury symptoms on a regular basis. It is best to use a consistent sample or survey method. Monitoring traps for insects, diseases, or vertebrates can be used when appropriate. Sampling frequency will depend on the pest and situation, but a general guideline for many insects and diseases is to sample every 1-2 weeks during the main growing season. Look in the places where pests commonly occur — undersides of leaves, on or inside fruit, on or under bark, on roots, in soil, etc

Biological Control

•      Biological control consists of using biological means -- such as insects, pathogens and parasites -- to organically control pests on peach trees.

•      Not all insects are considered pests, and several species can act as natural pest control, preying on the undesirable insects that damage fruit trees.

•       Lacewings, predatory wasps, ladybugs and predatory flies are common beneficial insects that feed on aphids, mites, scales, mealybugs and whiteflies.

•       Other options for biological control include attracting birds to feed on caterpillars and using bacterium insecticides -- such as Bacillus thuringiensis -- to target peach tree pests, including leafrollers, borers, cutworms, fruit worms and caterpillars.

Sprays

•      Sprays made with oils are among the safest ways to protect peach trees from a range of insects.

•      Oils are useful because they kill insect eggs, cut off the supply of oxygen to adult pests and even act as a repellent.

•      Look for plain oil sprays or those with neem oil. Neem oil repels or kills a number of insect pests but is of low risk to other living creatures.

•       Safest of all is a simple oil spray made from 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil and a drop of mild dish soap per 1 cup of water.