Coconut authority to assess Cadang cadang in coconut trees

To set up measures to prevent further infestation

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

Thursday 23rd of February 2012

DAET, Camarines Norte, Feb. 23 (PIA) -- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has commenced Monday (Feb. 20) a comprehensive general surveillance on Cadang-cadang disease in coconut in different barangays of the 12 municipalities of Camarines Norte.

PCA Camarines Norte officer in charge Editah P. Idnani said that the province and other provinces in Bicol region as well as in Region IV-A and Region VII are affected by the Cadang-cadang viroid infestation based on the yearly monitoring conducted by the PCA - Albay Research Center.

The said disease was previously identified by the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department Agriculture (BPI-DA) and later the monitoring was transferred to the PCA-Albay Research Center due to the closure of the BPI.

Under the Cadang-cadang Containment and Rehabilitation program, PCA targets to eliminate Cadang-cadang disease in coconuts not only in this province but also in other provinces in the regions cited.

She said that Cadang-cadang viroid weakens the coconut tree and results in less fruit with yellowish and lesser leaves and eventually cause the death of the tree.

Idnani cited that coco water livelihood and industry are also affected by the said disease wherein some 100,086 hectares of land planted with coconut will be under the said surveillance.

The ground survey is being conducted by 17 enumerators hired by the PCA in every barangay of all the 12 municipalities in the province using a survey questionnaire.

The 17 enumerators hired, are graduates of Agriculture and were assigned in every barangay in each municipality to conduct the ground survey in three months. (MAL/RBM, PIA Camarines Norte)