Cuban Farmer Turns to Biological Control of Pests in Bean Fields

Matanzas, Cuba, Feb 1 (ACN) Farmer Yens martin Tirado, renowned producer in this province, has turned to biologic agents to control the action of Thrips insects attacking bean flowers.

Tirado said that he was against the use biological means but after the inefficient action of chemicals against thrips, he decided to use new culture practices.

The farmer said that he applies nematodes to its bean plantations at dusk and dawn to avoid using it at high local temperature.

Tirado’s latest bean harvest yielded over two tons of beans per hectare despite the thrips’ attacks which causes the fall of the flowers affecting production. He is said to be one of the best bean cultivators in Cuba.

But the farmer also cultivates plantain, root vegetables and corn for animal feed in his farm called El Ricon.

Nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) break the biological cycle of the thrips by getting inside these insects and plating a bacterium that gets them sick and finally kills them, according to Jose Isbert Perez, expert in biological fight with the provincial Vegetable Health Department.