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Volume 6 No. 7 July 2010
Continued on back page
is a monthly bulletin of the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO).
It provides information to strengthen the managerial and technical capac-ity of our agribusiness stakeholders and market intelligence in fresh produce and seafood at wholesale, retail and export markets.
NAMDEVCO Leads the way in Market Information
Hydroponics as an Alter-native Farming Technique
Integrated Pest Management
Review of June Wholesale Prices
USA Terminal Markets
Seafood Prices
Cucumber Production Guide
Average Price ComparisonsMay vs June 2010
1
2
4
6
7
7
8
11
GreenVine
In this Issue
In the Business environment infor-mation is key for a number of reasons; understanding the market, determining customer needs, provid-ing feedback on the competition and for decision making. These reasons are equally applicable to the agricul-tural sector. Among other things, farmers need timely information to determine the pricing of their com-modities, marketing arrangements and investments. The main objective of an agricultural marketing informa-tion systems (MIS) is to support target users, especially farmers as what to grow, when to grow and for which market. NAMDEVCO which has as its mandate the development of markets and the stimulation of investments in the agri-food sector has been providing market information not only to assist farmers but also to consumers and policy makers.
Up to 2007, data collection was organised manually and was restricted to wholesale prices at the Northern Wholesale Market at Macoya. It was recognised that this
Market Information
NAMDEVCO
Leads the Way in
method had to be upgraded and expanded using current technology. In January 2007 the National Agri-cultural Market Information System (NAMIS) was launched.
NAMISTT is a web-enabled agricul-tural market information system. The system was designed in-house by a NAMDEVCO team comprising Mr. Prakash Ragbir, Mr. Avenesh Ali and Mr. Naitram Ramnanan. NAMISTT comprises five databases namely; Price and Volume , Pesti-cide Information, Fertilizer Informa-tion, Document Repository and Contacts Database. The Price and Volume is the largest of the data-bases.
Almost all marketing information systems have face-to-face or inter-active mode of information collect-ing, analyzing and sharing. In the case of NAMIS a dedicated team of Research Assistants (RA’s) begin work at midnight on weekdays to collect Price and Volume of over forty (40) commodities traded at the Northern Wholesale Market.
Leafy vegetables such as Lettuce is considered high risk when it comes to food safety. Water quality and soil contamination are the two major sources of microbial contamination in Lettuce production.
Therefore, if greater control over these two parameters is achieved, the food safety risk can be minimized. In this issue of the GreenVine we will highlight four hydro-ponic farmers in Trinidad. Hydroponics is an intensive form of agriculture that can fulfill the consumers demand for safe food and provide the grower with a profitable business.
In Latin, the word hydroponics means literally "water working."
Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants in either a bath or flow of highly oxygenated, nutrient enriched water.
production is done under cover whilst in others it is open, channels are either fabricated locally or imported. All the systems which we highlight utilize the nutrient film technique (NFT) whereby a very shallow stream of water containing all the dissolved nutrients required for plant growth is recirculated.
Elevated stands and pvc channels with slopes of 1:30 to 1:40 are used. The slope is provided by the racks which hold the channels. Water is collected at the end of the benches and recirculated into the system. All the systems use potable water and the nutrient solutions are monitored using a conductivity meter. Some farm-ers use specially formulated fertilizers whilst others make their own formulation.
nutrient reservoir
nutrient pump
nutrient return
guttering
pvc channel on a slope
Basic NFT Hydroponic System
In soil, biological decomposition breaks down organic matter into the basic nutrient salts that plants feed on. Water dissolves these salts and allows uptake by the roots. For a plant to receive a well balanced diet, every-thing in the soil must be in perfect balance. Rarely, if ever, can you find such ideal conditions in soil.
With hydroponics, water is enriched with these very same nutrient salts, creating a hydroponic nutrient solu-tion that is perfectly balanced. Additionally, very little water is lost to evaporation in a hydroponic system. By eliminating the soil, you eliminate soil borne disease and weeds. To support the plants in a hydroponic system, an inert soil-free medium may be used to anchor the roots.
There has been varying levels of innovation amongst our farmers using hydroponics. In some of the systems,
Less space required Less growing time requiredLabour and garden maintenance is reducedWater conservation - hydroponics uses up to 1/10 of the water that is used to grow equivalent amounts of field produce Nutrients are recyclablePest, weed, and disease problems can be controlled easierTransplanting shock is reduced for seedlingsNo crop rotation necessaryHigher Yields Less impact on the environment – no run off of fertilizers and pesticides
Advantages of Hydroponic Produce
Disadvantages of Hydroponic ProduceHigh set up cost Growers require specialized skill
HYDROPONICS AS AN
ALTERNATIVE FARMING TECHNIQUEFor Leafy Vegetables
2GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 6 No. 7 July 2010
3 GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 6 No. 7 July 2010
Steve Persad, FreeportMr Persad has been cultivating Lettuce for the past 8 years using hydroponics. He has transformed what started as a side line activity into a family business. Steve’s system consists of an open structure, covered with ultraviolet (uv) plastic. His area is 150 feet long by 50 feet wide. Steve’s greenhouse is located in the heart of a residential area in Freeport.
The Persad family supplies the Boomers outlets with shredded lettuce. Harvesting is done twice per week and the lettuce is washed, chopped and packaged at the family’s home. Deliveries are done on the same day of processing. Staggered planting ensures con-sistent supplies throughout the year. Steve’s son, Kemp tells us that on average they sow 1,500 – 2,000 plants per week.
Daughter-in-law, Reena Persad plans to expand the value added operations by introducing the shredded lettuce to the supermarkets.
Michael & Geeta Dannypersad, San FarnciqueThis hydroponic system was completely fabricated by Michael. He started with a small trial whereby he built wooden racks and used 2 inch round PVC pipes with holes cut along the top to support the plants. Initial trials proved to be very successful and the family has rapidly expanded to 22 racks.
Nursery production is done at home by Geeta. Both Patchoi and Lettuce is grown. Planting is done on a staggered basis. Harvests are sold to vendors at the Penal Market. According to Geeta, this system best utilizes the land space available to them, it is manage-able in terms of labour requirements and it is a lot less work than planting in the ground.
Stanley & Aneela Dipsingh, Chase VillageThis system has been in operation for the past 4 years. Aneela explains that the key to their success is market-ing. At the initial start up, the couple sold their produce at the Macoya Farmers’ Market. They found that it took too much of their time on a Sunday and the volumes were sold was not enough. Aneela went out to the supermarkets and was able to broker a deal with HiLo whereby she would package the Lettuce and deliver to the outlets as required. To date, they supply 2 outlets on a weekly basis.
Aneela tells us that business is good and that they are looking to expand to supply additional outlets; however land is the limiting factor. Production is done under cover, similar to the Persad’s. Aneela has tried cultiva-tion in the open and her experience is that the plants perform better under cover than those in the open.
Mahindranath Santoo, PenalMahindranath Santoo is a Chemical Engineer by profession. At the age of 28, Mahindra, decided to establish a hydroponic system at his parents home.
Teaming up with his cousin Nirmal Mohan, they have built from scratch a system covering approximately 5,000 square feet. The channels are engineered using square guttering PVC and seedling plugs are placed directly into the channels. An intricate network of pipes and pumps powers the system.
The cousins see this as an experiment and currently they plant both Patchoi and Lettuce which is sold at the Port of Spain Market. Nirmal tells us that there a lot of potential to earn revenue. The cousins plan to expand their holdings and aims to secure a more firm marketing arrangement once they can meet the demand for consistent supplies.
Nirmal Mohan displays his system
Geeta and her daughter explains how the system works
Aneela shows off her lettuce
Kemp Persad provides an overview of his family operations
GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 6 No. 7 July 2010 44
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
SoilPreparation
Planting Forecasting
Pest Trapping
Monitoring
ThresholdsCultural Controls
BiologicalControls
ChemicalControls
RecordKeeping
An
IPMYear
"IPM is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical approaches in a way that minimizes economic, health and environmental risks." One of the primary objective of IPM is to help growers produce profitable crops using environmentally and economically sound approaches. IPM contribute to a system that produces high-quality and safe foods. For many growers, IPM helps balance pest management with profitable crop production and environmental protection. IPM also reaches beyond agriculture to include pest management in landscape and home settings. IPM is an approach to solving pest problems by apply-ing our knowledge about pests to prevent them from damaging crops, harming animals, infesting buildings or otherwise interfering with our livelihood or enjoy-ment of life. IPM means responding to pest problems with the most effective, least-risk option.
Under IPM, actions are taken to control pests only when their numbers are likely to exceed acceptable levels. Any action taken is designed to target the troublesome pest, and limit the impact on other organ-isms and the environment.
Applying pesticides to crops, animals, buildings or landscapes on a routine basis, regardless of need, is not IPM. Applications of pesticides are always the last resort in an IPM program.
Soil Preparation: Growers give their plants a head start on pest problems by choosing the proper site, testing the soil, rotating crops, creating raised beds where necessary, and providing sufficient organic matter.
Planting: Growers plant crops that tolerate common problems, altering planting time and spacing to discourage certain diseases and insects.
Forecasting: Weather information is used to predict if and when pest outbreaks will occur. Treatments can then be properly timed, preventing crop damage and saving sprays.
Pest Trapping: Traps that are attractive to insects are used so that growers can pinpoint when the pest has arrived and decide whether control is justified.
Monitoring: Growers inspect representative areas of the fields regularly to determine whether pests are approaching a damaging level.
Thresholds: Before treating, growers wait until pest populations reach a scientifically determined level that could cause economic damage. Until that thresh-old is reached, the cost of yield and quality loss will be less than the cost for control.
Cultural Controls: The pest's environment is then disrupted by turning under crop residues, sterilizing tools, and planting crops at such times to allow for harvesting before peak insect cycles.
Biological Controls: It is necessary for growers to conserve the many beneficial natural enemies already at work. They use additional biologicals where appli-cable and necessary.
Chemical Controls: Growers select the most effective and appropriate pesticide and properly calibrate sprayers. They then verify that weather con-ditions will permit good coverage without undue drift.
Recordkeeping: Records of pest cycles, weather and treatment are kept for use in pest management decisions.
The key strategies which are employed in a typical IPM programme are outlined below.
5 GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 6 No. 7 July 2010
In the third step, scouts analyze information obtained from scouting and pest identification and determine the need for pest control. One question is whether or not the damage potential is more costly than the con-trol cost.
The economic threshold plays an important role in IPM decisions and is defined as when there are enough pests present to warrant treating the crop.
New products and innovative methods New IPM products and methods are developed and extended to producers to maximize yields.
Reduced crop loss through improved timing and efficiency of IPM strategies For farmers this means producing high-quality, affordable products. For society, it means maintaining safe and ecologically sound envi-ronments.
Judicious use of pesticides — decreasing environmental impacts As researchers develop environmental friendly ways to manage pests, IPM practitioners have helped growers reduce unnecessary pesticide use.
Steps of IPM Scouting or monitoring
The purpose of scouting is to detect the presence, concen-tration, and type of pests in a field. Scouting involves a regu-lar and methodical procedure to quantify field information needed to make sound pest management decisions based on pest present.
Field observations are used to make immediate IPM decisions as well as record part of the field's history for making rational decisions in the future. Scouting should be done on a regular basis throughout the life of the crop as a first line of defense in any management system
Properly identifying pests is an important aspect of scouting. Natural enemies that help keep pests in check are also present in fields, so it is important to recognize these friends. For example, certain insects, such as Lady Bird Beetles, may be abundant in a field but does not cause crop damage.
Knowledge of specific insects, weeds, or diseases in a field is important for IPM decision-making. Pest levels can vary greatly from one field to another. Each indi-vidual field should be scouted thoroughly without bias even though the fields may appear similar.
Identification
Pest situation assessment
Once the management strategy (or strategies) has been selected, it should be employed in a timely manner.
Cultivation or using herbicides on weeds, for example, must be done at the proper stages of development of the weed and the crop for greatest impact.
IPM benefits
Review what went wrong and what went right. Was the pest properly identified? Was the field sampling unbiased? Was the choice of con-trol based on sound judgment or outside pres-sure? What changes to the system would make it better?
Evaluation Did IPM work? Compare the pest activity before and after implementation of IPM strategies.
Implementation
IPM integrates several different pest management strategies when feasible.
GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 6 No. 7 July 2010 GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 6 No. 7 July 20106 7
CommodityAnchoBachinBlancheBrochetCariteCat FishCavalliCro CroCutlass FishHerringKing FishMixed FishMoonshineRed FishSalmonSharkShrimp (M)
Port of Spain Wholesale Fish Market Orange Valley Wholesale Fish Market
Carrot
Cassava
Dasheen (Local)
Eddoes (Imported)
Sweet Potato (Local)
Ginger
Yam (Common)
Patchoi
Spinach
Cabbage (Local) (Gn)
Callaloo bush (open)
Callaloo bush (roll)
Lettuce (M)
Bodi Beans
Cucumber
Melongene (M)
Sweet Pepper (M)
Tomato (M)
Pumpkin
Banana (Imported)
Papaya
Pineapple
Watermelon
REVIEW OF JUNE WHOLESALE FRESH PRODUCE PRICES AND VOLUMES
USA TERMINAL MARKETS WHOLESALE PRICES
(US$) JUNE 2010
COMPARISON OF WHOLESALE PRICE
FOR SELECTED SEAFOOD ITEMS
Root Crops
Condiments and Spices
Leafy Vegetables
Vegetables
Fruits
Item Prices % Change Volumes % Change
Item Prices % Change Volumes % Change
Item Prices % Change Volumes % Change
Item Prices % Change Volumes % Change
Item Prices % Change Volumes % Change
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
bdl
bdl
kg
bdl
bdl
Head
5 lb bdl
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
kg
Unitkgkgkgkgkgkgkgkgkgkgkgkgkgkgkgkgkg
% Change % Change
Miami Terminal Market New York Terminal MarketPumpkin
(50 lb Bag)Hot Pepper (8 lb Box)
Papaya(35 lb Box)
Pumpkin(50 lb Bag)
Hot Pepper (8 lb Box)
Papaya(35 lb Box)
Hot Pepper - Habanero/Scotch Bonnet Type; Papaya - Maradol Type
Source: USDA Market News Service. NOTE: The prices quoted above are the prices received by the importer/distributor in the respective markets.An exporter from Trinidad and Tobago would receive about 65% of the above prices when he ships the product (Cost and Freight landed port)
Fruits
Belize
Costa Rica
Dominican
Republic
Florida
Guatemala
Netherlands
Mexico
Panama $16.00 - $21.00
$13.00 - $15.00
$20.00 - $28.00
$20.00 - $23.00
$21.00 - $22.00
$20.00 - $22.00 $18.00 - $22.00
$21.00 - $25.00
$28.00 - $40.00
$24.00$16.00 - $23.00
$21.00
$16.00 - $19.00
$24.00 - $26.00
$25.00 - $26.00Celery
Chive
Hot Pepper
Pimento (M)
bdl
bdl
kg
kg
Overall, prices of root crops increased by 24% as volumes rose marginally by 4%. Ginger and Eddoes (Imported) showed the highest increases. In the case of Eddoes (Imported) prices have risen from $9.51/kg in January
to $22.81/kg in June, an increase of 140%.Ginger prices rose by 128% from January to June, volumes fell by 51%. These steep increases were due to reduced volumes arising from the drought conditions experienced earlier this year.
With the exception of Celery, the price of all items in this category fell in the range of 3 to 18% as their volumes rose between 21 to 27%.
There was a 19% increase in the price of Celery, as volumes fell by 1%. Hot Pepper prices fell from $291/bag (40lbs) in May to $239/bag in June.
There was an 18% overall increase in prices for this category despite a 22% increase in volumes. Cabbage price increased by 55% moving from $6.65/kg in May to $10.30 in June,
while volumes fell by 13%. Patchoi and Spinach were the other items showing double digit price increases in this category increasing by 12 and 18% as volumes fell by 14 and 21% respectively.
Tomato showed the most significant price increase (74%) in this category. Price rose from $15.02/kg in May to $26.12/kg in June a difference of $11.10/kg. The volume of Tomato entering the NWM
fell by 51%. Reduced supply is attributed to weather conditions. With the exception of Bodi Beans, the prices of the other items increased in the range of 1 to 16%. Bodi Beans fell by 5%.
With the exception of Watermelon, prices in this category fell in the range of 1 to 12%, while overall volumes increased by
18%. The price of Watermelon rose by 13%, from $4.10/kg in May to $4.65/kg in June.
May - 10 Jun - 10 May/Jun May - 10 Jun - 10 May/Jun
May - 10 Jun - 10 May/Jun May - 10 Jun- 10 May/Jun
May - 10 Jun- 10 May/Jun May - 10 Jun - 10 May/Jun
May - 10 Jun - 10 May/Jun May - 10 Jun - 10 May/Jun
7.32
4.80
11.76
20.75
10.65
39.29
4.09
7.65
4.69
14.61
22.81
11.81
56.41
4.02
5%
-2%
24%
10%
11%
44%
-2%
125,874
58,121
9,220
6,475
88,267
7,693
7,728
132,723
61,384
8,306
2,393
88,986
11,975
8,754
5%
6%
-10%
-63%
1%
56%
13%
36.80
5.35
6.93
17.37
15.02
3.49
35.03
6.20
6.97
20.00
26.12
4.04
-5%
16%
1%
15%
74%
16%
10,881
146,284
11,800
8,838
28,352
175,107
57%
9%
4%
-28%
-51%
15%
6,944
134,564
11,381
12,240
57,309
152,681
5.22
3.24
6.65
4.29
5.34
5.41
5.83
3.82
10.30
4.49
5.65
5.56
12%
18%
55%
5%
6%
3%
28,660
18,835
75,331
49,000
7,150
12,620
-14%
-21%
-13%
44%
12%
-9%
33,233
23,778
45,943
34,140
6,360
13,850
55.53
40.92
16.04
15.62
66.32
39.52
13.17
14.85
19%
-3%
-18%
-5%
10,218
14,414
24,828
5,320
-1%
21%
27%
23%
10,285
11,906
19,555
4,329
May - 10 Jun - 10 May - 10 Jun - 10
May - 10 Jun - 10 May/Jun May - 10 Jun - 10 May/Jun
32.5218.104.5017.0930.804.6016.8510.535.144.4132.4210.8212.4931.4723.7015.5939.24
27.5618.275.3517.6426.825.0616.097.604.784.4126.8411.0213.2328.8122.8815.9440.48
-15%1%19%3%
-13%10%-5%-28%-7%0%
-17%2%6%-8%-3%2%3%
NA11.02
NA19.8427.98
NA18.746.11NANA
26.663.5917.1936.3021.2213.9633.06
--9%
-0%
-16%-
13%-15%
--
-24%-2%26%10%-8%6%2%
NA12.13
NA19.8433.35
NA16.547.17NA
4.4135.283.6813.6732.8823.0113.2332.47
8.68
5.53
8.98
4.10
8.63
4.86
8.76
4.65
-1%
-12%
-2%
13%
91,680
25,306
36,288
55,883
100,606
19,728
52,345
74,458
10%
-22%
44%
33%
8GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 6 No. 7 July 2010
Cucumber(Cucumis sativus)
The cucumber is a popular salad vegetable crop that is widely culti-vated throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Production of this crop has been increasing steadily over the last few years.
A review of the volumes of cucum-ber traded at the Northern Whole-sale Market (NWM), Macoya reveals that volumes have increased over 150% from 2006 to 2009. The total volume traded in 2006 was 800,000kg whereas over 2 million kilograms were traded in 2009. The Table across shows the average wholesale and retail prices for cucumber for the period 2008 to June 2010.
Beacuse of its growing importance to our farming community, in this issue of GreenVine we will highlight some of the key areas for successful crop production.
Prices of Cucumber ($/kg)
Jan - Jun Jan - Jun Jan - JunJul - Dec Jul - Dec
2008 2009 2010
WholsalePriceRetail Price
5.19
9.64
5.33
10.09
4.64
9.54
4.16
8.79
5.98
10.37
It belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family which includes squash, watermelon and cantaloupe. Cucumbers can be enjoyed both in its fresh or pickled form. The crop is cultivated year round and some varieties can mature in as little as 28 days. The crop grows best under conditions of high light, humidity, moisture, temperature, and fertil-izer. Cucumber vines are indetermi-nate and will continue its production cycle once there is proper control of insects and disease.
Introduction
Generally cucumber varieties fall into three categories: Slicers, Pick-ling or Greenhouse type. Slicers are typically 6-8 inches long and are enjoyed raw in salads. Slicer varieties include: Eureka, Dasher II, Atlantis Pickling varieties are not popular in Trinidad as they are smaller in size than slicers.Greenhouse- Standard field varieties can be grown in greenhouses but these may require pollination
Varieties
LAND PREPARATION
The cucumber crop can be estab-lished either by direct seeding or the use of transplants. Many commercial seedling producers offer transplants either in speedling trays or in Styro-foam cups.
PLANTING & SPACING
Pre-plant fertilizers can be incorporated at the land preparation stage. If using transplants, a high Phosphorus fertil-izer (such as 12.24.12 or 5:10:5) should be added to the planting hole before placing the seedling. Once the plants are established, apply a balanced fertilizer as a side dressing and water into the soil. By the third week, the fertilizer programme should incorporate a fertilizer with a high Potassium percentage e.g. 12.12.17 +2, 12.11.18 or 13.13.21.
Magnesium (Mg) is also important for vine crops. If low levels are detected in the soil test result, it can be applied in the form of Epsom salt at a rate of 3 lbs (1.4kg) per 100 sq ft. (30m).
Nowadays there a number of bio-stimulants available in the agro shops. These are mainly plant based proteins, hormones and micro –nutrients that help to boost plant health, vigour, increase resistance to disease as well as increase the yield of the cucumber crop. These should be incorporated into a well managed fertilizer programme.
Cucumbers prefer loose, well drained soils with an average soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8. It is always a good practice to do a soil test on the plot on which you intend to cultivate the crop. The result of the soil test will determine any corrective actions that must be implemented before the crop is established. Lime should be applied if soil test shows pH 5.5 or less.
Cucumber, like many other vine crops, benefit relatively well from high levels of organic matter (such as compost) and should be incorpo-rated in the soil at this stage. In keeping with Good Agricultural Prac-tices, the use of uncomposted chicken manure at this stage is not advised since the crop is ready for harvest in as little as 28 days and the recommended time for curing manure is 90 days.
Cucumbers can be grown in rows, mounds or trained on a trellis. The crop can be spaced at 12’’ along the row by 3’ to 4’ between rows. How-ever this spacing can vary depending on soil type, drainage, topography and variety.
FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT
PRODUCTION GUIDE
9 GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 6 No. 7 July 20105
The cucumber crop requires a lot of water to keep the vines and fruits turgid. It is important to keep the soil in the root zone well-moistened. A thorough watering at least once or twice per week encourages deep rooting.
IRRIGATION
Aphids are soft-bodied insects that use their piercing sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap. They usually occur in colo-nies on the undersides of tender terminal growth of the cucumber crop. They cause leaves to wilt or turn yellow because of excessive sap removal. Symptoms include puck-ering or distortion of leaves and malformed flowers or fruit. Aphids produce large amounts of a sugary liquid waste called "honeydew" which promotes sooty mold on leaves, turning them black. Honeydew can attract other insects such as ants that will feed on the sticky deposits. Some aphids are very important vectors of plant viruses. However, it is seldom possible to control these diseases by attempting to kill the aphid vectors with an insecticide. Aphids carrying viruses on their mouthparts may have to probe for only a few seconds or minutes before the plant is infected
The addition of organic matter such as compost helps conserve water. Drip irrigation is recommended, especially in the dry season, as this method conserves water and may improve yields. Avoid the use of overhead sprinklers especially late in the evening as this can promote a number of fungal diseases.
PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL
Cucumber Beetles Striped and spotted cucumber beetles can cause serious losses in cucumbers. Striped cucumber beetles are yellow-green with three black stripes down the back and are 1/4 inch long. Cucumber beetles vector the bacteria that cause bac-terial wilt. Plants suddenly wilt and die just as they begin to produce. The adults feed mainly on foliage while the larvae of these insects feed on roots and stems.
This damage is minimal compared to the potential losses due to bacterial wilt. The spotted cucumber beetle is also 1/4 inch long, is yellow-green with 12 black spots on its back. The adults feed and females deposit eggs in cracks in the soil at the base of plants. The eggs hatch and the larvae feed on the roots. These larvae will pupate in the soil and later, the next generation of beetles will emerge.
Aphids
Early detection is the key to reducing aphid infestations. Regular monitoring of the crop will help to determine the need for control. Contact insecticides are usually prescribed. Thorough plant coverage is recommended as most aphids can be found at the growing tips and undersides of leaves and are protected by the plant foliage.
Beneficial insects, such as lady beetles and lacewings, will begin to appear on plants with moderate to heavy aphid infestations. They may eat large num-bers of aphids but the reproductive capability of aphids is so great that the impact of the natural enemies may not be enough keep these insects at or below acceptable levels.
The striped cucumber beetles spread the bacterium either through their faeces or from contaminated mouth-parts. Once a plant is infected by bacterial wilt, there is nothing you can do to save it. The only way to avoid bacterial wilt is to prevent the beetles from feeding on the plant.
Bacterial Wilt Disease Regular monitoring and field scouting for cucumber beetles essential. A single post-transplant soil drench with an insecticide such as Admire® can provide control over a long period. Repeated applications of contact insecticides are necessary to protect the cucumber crop from beetle feed-ing and transmission of bacterial wilt.
One way to determine if bacterial wilt has infected a plant is to cut the stem and squeeze both cut ends. A sticky sap will ooze from the water conducting tissues of the stem. If you push the cut ends of the stem together and slowly pull them apart, you will be able to see a roping effect if bacteria are present.
Lacewing larva feeding on aphids
GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 6 No. 7 July 2010 10
Downy Mildew is caused by Pseudo-peronospora cubensis. Downy Mildew can infect all cucurbits including cucumber, melon, pump-kin and squash. Symptoms usually start as pale green to yellow spots and form on upper surface of leaves, and later turn brown.
Angular Leaf SpotAngular leaf spot is a bacterial disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans. Older leaves are more susceptible than younger leaves. Leaf spots begin as small, water-soaked areas that enlarge until they are confined by a vein, giving them an angular appear-ance. The spots may have yellow borders. The tissue later turns gray to tan-brown and dies. As it dries and shrinks, it may tear, leaving ragged
small and almost round. Spots first appear watersoaked, 1/16-1/8", and later turn white to tan, and may crack.
Control• Avoid excessive nitrogen. • Do not plant in fields that receive runoff water from other cucurbit fields. • Avoid overhead irrigation. • Avoid working in the fields or harvesting while the plants are wet. • Cut, rather than tear, fruit from stems to avoid post-harvest rots.
holes in the leaf. Female blossoms and young fruit may drop from infected vines. Fruit spots are
Downy Mildew
Keep the plot clean of debris and weeds – these harbour
pests and disease.
Remove diseased plants immediately; put them in a bag and
remove from the field to avoid the spread of disease.
Plant disease resistant varieties.
Bacterial wilt is spread by cucumber beetles- Control beetles
as soon as they appear.
Space plants further apart to increase air circulation.
Harvest cucumbers as soon as they reach a desirable size. However, most slicing cucumbers are best when they are over 5 inches long, but still slender and dark green. Mature cucumbers left on the vine tend to suppress the production of new flowers and fruit.
When sliced, the seeds and seed cavity should still be immature. Cucumbers require picking about two to three times a week to attain maxi-mum quality and production.
Some important tips for disease control
Plant resistant varieties when available. Cucumber varieties with moderate to high level of resistance are available. Use drip irrigation and wide row spacing to promote leaf drying and encourage good air move-ment around the plants.
In cucumber the leaf spots are angular bounded by leaf veins. Dark purplish grey fuzz forms on the underside of the leaf in high humidity. In wet or very humid conditions, disease progresses rapidly. Leaf spots grow together and entire leaves turn brown.
Downy mildew cannot survive on plant debris and only grows on living plant tissue. The pathogen needs moisture on the leaf surface in order to germinate and start a new infection. Under humid condi-tions downy mildew rapidly repro-duces and spreads, resulting in severe crop damage. The patho-gen can move on air currents, splashing water and on the tools and hands of workers.
Control
•
•
•
Fungicides are effective if applied before disease becomes severe. Both contact and systemic fungi-cides can be used against downy mildew. Systemics are more effec-tive if weather conditions are con-ducive to disease and the host is very susceptible. However using the same systemic fungicide repeatedly can result in fungicide resistance. It is important to rotate systemic fungicides or tank mix with a con-tact to avoid resistance build up.
HARVESTING
GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 6 No. 7 July 201011
AVERAGE PRICE COMPARISONS MAY VS JUNE 2010ACROSS THE VARIOUS MARKETS
ROOT CROPSCarrot Cassava Dasheen(Local) Eddoes (Local) Sweet Potatoes (Local) Sweet Potatoes (Foreign) Ginger CONDIMENTS AND SPICESCelery Chive Hot Peppers Shadon Beni Pimento LEAFY VEGETABLESLettuce (M) Patchoi Amaranthus spp. (Spinach)Cabbage(Local) (Gn) Callaloo Bush (open) Callaloo Bush (roll) OTHER VEGETABLESBodi beans Caraille Cauliflower Cucumber Christophene Melongene (M) Ochro Pumpkin Plantain (Ripe) Sweet Pepper (M) Seim Beans Tomato (M) FRUITSDry Coconuts Banana (imported)Papaya Pineapple Watermelon CITRUSLime Grapefruit Orange
PackKgKgKgKgKgKg
Bndl.Bndl.EachBndl.Each
HeadBndl.Bndl.
KgBndl.Bndl.
Bndl.KgKgKgKgKg
EachKgKgKgKgKg
EachKgKgKgKg
EachEachEach
Super-markets Jun 10
Commodity UnitNWM
May 10
NWM
Jun 10
Farmers' Markets May 10
Farmers' Markets Jun 10
Municipal Markets May 10
Municipal Markets Jun 10
Vege-Marts May 10
Vege-Marts Jun 10
Super-markets May 10
3.334.8011.7618.2410.6514.8339.29
2.781.710.291.270.18
5.415.223.24
6.654.295.34
7.367.7316.605.3527.886.930.233.4910.1117.3717.5615.02
2.798.685.538.984.10
1.671.400.97
3.484.6914.6128.8811.8114.6656.41
3.321.650.271.100.16
5.565.833.82
10.304.495.65
7.019.7124.016.2033.836.970.404.0410.1520.0020.5926.12
2.898.634.868.764.65
1.07NA
0.97
4.706.2113.0415.7111.58
NA44.09
2.842.690.342.900.23
4.885.584.82
9.345.237.00
6.7110.5417.158.6328.668.670.345.3712.6714.3419.2314.33
4.0810.358.7010.705.39
1.011.381.31
4.886.0814.7016.5916.19
NA58.63
3.222.500.341.900.22
4.285.564.86
11.605.396.92
6.9011.1727.018.8639.689.000.396.0612.5618.3522.4722.90
4.199.928.8210.135.67
0.991.001.40
4.817.3716.2328.6216.1419.8563.85
3.922.670.362.300.28
6.857.205.46
12.665.667.12
6.2812.3828.789.9239.959.460.586.2513.6423.6822.9429.74
4.9910.2110.1612.166.58
1.851.921.34
5.198.0716.9329.7715.5219.8562.91
4.072.870.421.760.32
6.937.285.89
14.285.917.18
7.1413.3330.3910.6640.1510.930.586.6914.5023.2025.9132.31
5.3811.269.9312.376.49
1.742.131.59
4.969.2122.1736.2218.3920.4965.47
4.193.270.562.350.45
6.867.836.66
14.895.936.87
7.3217.3634.1513.7848.0612.910.507.2418.5030.5527.5037.48
5.1811.3312.6114.656.39
2.372.281.97
4.567.4714.8921.0213.1518.2850.41
3.342.720.401.960.31
6.826.535.25
9.435.776.89
6.1110.9320.989.1833.6910.300.415.9413.9819.8220.3518.15
4.6610.629.5612.416.69
1.931.941.50
5.267.9213.9222.8813.2713.6055.03
3.733.200.411.880.31
7.156.855.75
10.735.966.80
7.6413.0522.519.9237.6010.320.416.0815.2820.1120.5818.47
4.9811.2611.3312.756.28
1.871.411.53
4.969.1217.6724.5114.9716.8448.39
3.743.080.522.250.44
6.577.436.63
13.655.566.99
7.1216.4527.4312.1741.8513.570.457.0318.8526.4826.7823.33
5.4511.5812.9413.937.89
2.872.262.02
NWM - Northern Wholesale Market, Macoya
12
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TOTHE EDITOR ARE WELCOME
Executive Chairman : Mr. Noel GarciaDeputy Chief Executive Officer: Mr Elbert Johnson
Editor: Mr Aziz Mohammed
Any mention of proprietary or trade names in this publicationdoes not constitute an endorsement by NAMDEVCO or its
agents and is solely for information purposes
Email: [email protected] Homepage: www.namdevco.com Market Info: www.namistt.com
Design & Layout: Jaiwante SamsoondarPrinting: Printcom (Caribbean Ltd)
CONTACT US OFFICESSouthern Wholesale Market: Tel: 647-7478 Fax: 647-6087Northern Wholesale Market: Tel/Fax: 645-9073Port of Spain Fish Market: Tel/Fax: 627-7656Orange Valley Fish Market: Tel/Fax: 679-2281Piarco Packinghouse: Tel: 669-7092 Fax: 669-7091Farmers’ Market: Tel: 645-7377
The National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation
(NAMDEVCO)SS Erin Road, DebeTel: 647-3218/3467
Fax: 647-6087Email: [email protected]
GreenVine Monthly Bulletin. Volume 6 No. 7 July 2010
NAMDEVCO’s Research AssistantsFrom left to right: Front row - Ramie Badall, Ricardo Mohammed, David Alladin (IT Technician) and Yuri Augustine
Middle row: Kayode Prescott, Sadique Ali, Janice Timothy and Kalita KhanBack row: Andrea Simon, Larry Clarence and Akeel Thomas
These RA’s interact with farmers, traders and buyers to collect information. To ensure the integrity of the data, it is collected electronically with Personal Digital Assistants (PDA’s) based on a predetermined methodology.
Apart from the wholesale traders, consumers are also catered for with the collection and publication of retail prices throughout the country. Prices are collected weekly at the Farmers Markets, Municipal Markets, Supermarkets and Vege-Marts.
The information is collated and disseminated through a number of mechanisms including; the website www.namistt.com, (since 2007 average hits has risen from 30,000 to over 100,000 thus far in 2010), NAMDEVCO’s Digital Display Boards located in Macoya and Port of Spain, the GreenVine newsletter , newspa-per publications “MarketWatch” and “Grocery Basket” text messaging and via telephone requests at our
Market InformationContinued from front page
offices or through our Field Officers.
Since the implementation of the NAMIS our analysis of data shows that there has been a reduction in price mark-up between wholesale and retail prices, which has benefitted the consumer. Hotel and supermarket buyers use the information to negotiate the prices with their buying agents.
Another important feature of NAMIS is the Buyers and Sellers Forum. This Forum provides an avenue for both buyers and sellers to advertise their products and requirements to a wider audience using e-marketing. To date there has been 311 registered members on the Forum.
The NAMIS has been endorsed as a model by CARICOM and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The latter organisation is regarded as a leader in the field when it comes to the collection and dissemination of market information. CARICOM has recommended that the NAMIS be adopted by other member states desirous of developing their own market information systems.
