Articles
IPM FOR VEGETABLES IN LATIN AMERICA: PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES
Article number
513_11
Pages
105 – 108
Language
Abstract
Long before the arrival of the European settlers, the native inhabitants of Latin America had vegetables as very important part of their diet.
In fact, some of the most important vegetables consumed today world-wide have their origin in Latin America.
The tomato, the potato, the sweet potato, some cucurbits and many others have their centre of origin somewhere between Mexico and Argentina.
More recent migrations from Europe and Asia contributed significantly for the increase of the participation of vegetables in the diet of present Latin American population.
Produced commercially or in backyards, vegetables are a very important factor in the food security of the growing population of the region.
It also constitutes a very important source of income and labour in rural and peri-urban areas, generating jobs for many people, including women and youth.
However, the average annual per capita consumption of vegetables in Latin America is around 40 kg, far below the 73 kg recommended by WHO. There are many reasons for this, including inaccessibility due to low income.
Compared to other basic food crops, the cost of production of vegetables is higher especially during the summer, mainly due to the cost of control of the many pests, which include insects & spider mites, weeds and disease-causing micro-organisms.
Most of the presently available vegetable cultivars were developed for temperate climates and lack adaptation for the usual hot and humid conditions prevailing in Latin America.
This results in very high pest damage albeit the intensive use of pesticides during the growing season and post-harvest, contributing for the escalation of production costs and the presence of higher than acceptable pesticide residue levels on produce.
Both for local consumption and for export there is a growing need to produce better quality vegetables, at a reasonable price and without unacceptable pesticide residues level.
This may be accomplished by the establishment of integrated pest management programmes throughout the Region.
In fact, some of the most important vegetables consumed today world-wide have their origin in Latin America.
The tomato, the potato, the sweet potato, some cucurbits and many others have their centre of origin somewhere between Mexico and Argentina.
More recent migrations from Europe and Asia contributed significantly for the increase of the participation of vegetables in the diet of present Latin American population.
Produced commercially or in backyards, vegetables are a very important factor in the food security of the growing population of the region.
It also constitutes a very important source of income and labour in rural and peri-urban areas, generating jobs for many people, including women and youth.
However, the average annual per capita consumption of vegetables in Latin America is around 40 kg, far below the 73 kg recommended by WHO. There are many reasons for this, including inaccessibility due to low income.
Compared to other basic food crops, the cost of production of vegetables is higher especially during the summer, mainly due to the cost of control of the many pests, which include insects & spider mites, weeds and disease-causing micro-organisms.
Most of the presently available vegetable cultivars were developed for temperate climates and lack adaptation for the usual hot and humid conditions prevailing in Latin America.
This results in very high pest damage albeit the intensive use of pesticides during the growing season and post-harvest, contributing for the escalation of production costs and the presence of higher than acceptable pesticide residue levels on produce.
Both for local consumption and for export there is a growing need to produce better quality vegetables, at a reasonable price and without unacceptable pesticide residues level.
This may be accomplished by the establishment of integrated pest management programmes throughout the Region.
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