It has been reported that the Cochineal Scale disease continues to cause great damage to Opuntia (prickly pear cactus, Papoutsosuko) in North Cyprus. The wrong treatment is being carried out in order to tackle the disease. Deputy Manager of the North Cyprus Department of Agriculture Dr. Emine Kocadal, emphasized that the insecticides used to tackle the disease should only be those recommended by the Department of Agriculture.
Kocadal said that following the emergence of the Cochineal Scale disease, insecticides were distributed free of charge and that they will continue to provide insecticides until a new source is found.
Dr. Emine Kocadal noted that besides the chemical treatment on the Cochineal Scale, it is very important to remove affected cacti from the field or destroy them completely.
Noting that the product containing Spirotetramat or Sulfoxaflor was recommended by the Pesticides Control Board, Kocadal said that the Department will be providing training.
Kocadal also announced that Opuntia owners can find more information and download treatment methods on combating Cochineal Scale on the Department of Agriculture website (tarmdairesi.gov.ct.tr).
Stating that the cacti should be sprayed with insecticides 21 days before harvest season, Kocadal said that spraying treatment should only be done following a harvest and only if temperatures are above 15 degrees.
Related Posts
Half a million Gazans face ‘catastrophic levels’ of hunger: UN agency
Families often don't receive the full rations and frequency they need,’ WFP says Almost half a million people in the Read more
2024 could be world’s hottest year as June breaks records
Last month was the hottest June on record, the EU’s climate change monitoring service said on Monday, continuing a streak Read more
