Page 9 - Vol.38-No.9

CROP PROTECTION

high humidity. Such periods are good for in management is repaired and orchards
insect pest attack and infection by patho- rehabilitated by fungicides applied as sprays
gens but bad for the stability and longevity to control leaf and fruit diseases, and as
of insecticide and fungicide deposits on canker paints to treat bark and wood dis-
the foliage. ease after excising the infected area of
Risk of insect pest infestation and mi- bark and wood.
crobial pathogen infection starting with It is easy to see why citrus orchards are
the ‘set’ of young fruits and up to fruit neglected but also why this is a false econ-
maturity and picking is between 6 to 12+ omy. Given the initial investment made it
months depending on the citrus species, is unfathomable why any tree crop is ne-
the growing conditions and the climate. glected. But commodity markets are fickle
Many fungal diseases like greasy spot and with prices which are high at planting may
sour orange scab (Elsinoe fawcetti) which be ‘rock bottom’ 5 years later when cit-
are present on leaves will also infect young rus trees start to yield. Farmers minimise
fruit, the former providing the inoculum inputs, harvest what they can and may
to infect the latter. All bark and wood, in- switch future investment into short-term
cluding root collar, bole and branches, is cash crops. But what goes down comes
vulnerable to infection by Phytophthora Lemon (Citrus limon) has its centre of up again when the same farmers are pre-
species which will also infect the fruit. origin in sub-tropical/tropical Asia, sented with excellent opportunities from
but the bulk of commercial lemons are
Citrus supports epiphytic plants, es- currently produced in countries with renewed high demand and price for citrus,
pecially in the tropics, including primi- Mediterranean-type climates. only to find trees need require rehabilita-
tive plants like algae, lichens, bryophytes Citrus rehabilitation tion to yield.
(mosses and liverworts) and pteridophytes Well-managed citrus has a long and fruit-
(ferns) and also higher plants like bromeli- Unmanaged citrus orchards deteriorate ful life with trees often outliving those who
ads. Epiphytes are essentially weeds grow- and will therefore require rehabilitation, a plant them. Initial planting investment is
ing on trees rather than in the soil beneath word which generally describes any struc- high and with little reward until 5 years
them, but will exert same debilitating effect tural work including some replanting and after, but farmers may profit for the next
as do diseases and are therefore viewed radical pruning. More cosmetic damage 50 years providing trees are well managed.
in the same way. caused by disease after short-term lapses
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OVERFISHING FALLS IN THE

MEDITERRANEAN AND BLACK SEA

Overfishing in the Mediterranean and They know that reversing the declining contribution of fisheries to the sustaina-
Black Sea has fallen significantly in the trend of aquatic resources is crucial, as ble use and conservation of biodiversity.
past decade, but exploitation of most is linking profitability and sustainability SoMFi is the flagship publication of the
commercial species is far from sustaina- outcomes,” said Miguel Bernal, newly GFCM, a FAO regional fisheries manage-
ble, according to a report by the General appointed GFCM Executive Secretary. ment organization. Thanks to the consol-
Fisheries Commission of the Mediterra- “The new strategy provides an ambitious idation of quality standards in the past
nean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture vision and requires bolder collective ef- two years, this year’s SoMFi is the first
Organization of the United Nations (FAO). forts than before.” to analyze trends in the fisheries sector
The latest edition of The State of The biennial report found that produc- at the regional level.
Mediterranean and Black Sea Fisheries tion in the fisheries sector has fallen by
(SoMFi) found excessive exploitation has around 15 percent since 2020, partly due
diminished in the region, particularly for to the COVID-19 pandemic, and so too
key species subject to multilateral man- have industry revenues and jobs.
agement plans. However, 73 percent of Its release comes at a crucial time as
commercial species are still overfished the international community gears up to
and fishing pressure, while lower than participate in the 15th Conference of the
in the past, is still double than what is Parties to the Convention on Biological
considered sustainable. Diversity and expected to negotiate a
“In the 2030 Strategy, GFCM Members new Global Biodiversity Framework, an
have set new goals to address this issue. opportunity to highlight the meaningful
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FISHERIES Vol. 38 No. 9 7