New hope

for cocoa

COCOA yields could leap as much

30 per cent with the release in Papua New Guinea of a new che mical which will combat two major crop diseases canker and blackpod. The chemical, named Fos-ject 600, was de veloped at the Papua New Guinea Cocoa and Coconut Research Institute in col laboration with an Australian company, UIM Agrochemicals (Australia) Ltd.

The Fos-ject 600 fungicide, a type of neutralised phosphorous acid, is injected into the cocoa tree trunk through a syringe technique. The director of the Cocoa and Coconut Research Institute, Dr Mark Holderness, said the economic life of a cocoa tree could be prolonged significantly with the new fungicide; tests over three years showed canker was re duced by an average 90 per cent, black pod by 50 per cent.

Blackpod is the greatest headache

(apart from falling world prices) for

Papua New Guinea’s cocoa farmers and the country’s growers will be the first to use the new fungicide. Other applica

tions, including a gas-powered injector,

are also being tested. Dr Holderness said an added bonus of the syringe injection method was its not being restricted by weather conditions. The research insti tute conducted trials over 70 hectares at

various cocoa growing regions incorpor

ating diverse climatic conditions and

management practices.

It was also safe for users, and for the environment, he said. The tests had shown there was no need for chemical residues or flavour taint.

The New Guinea Islands Produce Company has welcomed the new pro duct. A company spokesman said it would help boost production and that all smallholder growers should be im mediately educated on how to apply the new method of controlling canker and blackpod. He also called on the Agricul ture Bank or a government agency to help supply syringes and the chemical in bulk to growers. □