'Golden' menace in Ifugao rice terraces
Item Type article
Authors Dancel, K. T.; Joshi, Ravindra C.
Download date 26/09/2021 16:42:43
Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/35009 Special report
'Golden' menace in Ifugao rice terraces
If the golden apple snail (GAS) were real B y for natural predators, modification of wa "gold", farmers in the Ifugao Rice Terraces K.T. Dancel1 and R.C. Joshi2 ter management techniques, development (IRT) would have been grateful to those1Office of the Deputy Executive Director for R&Dof crop protection practices that can be who brought it to the world-renowned spot 2Crop Protection Division timed to increase GAS mortality, and dis in the Philippines. Philippine Rice Research Institute covery of more palatable food recipes for Now one of the major rice pests in the M aligaya, M uñoz, 3 110 N ueva Ecija human and animal consumption. IRT, GAS has been significantly reducing Philippines the current yield of about 1.34 tons per ha Tracing the origin annually, which is barely enough to feed Earlier studies conducted by researchers the families for the whole year. from the University of the Philippines at Scientifically known asPomacea Los Banos (UPLB) and DA-PhilRice claim canaliculata (Lamarck 1822), GAS has that GAS was introduced in the Philippines been known in the Philippines to habituate between 1982 and 1984 from Taiwan, only the lowland areas and its reproduc Florida, and Argentina as food and protein tion is limited by low temperature, high el source of Filipino farmers. Because of this, evation, and salinity. Surprisingly, a group GAS was massively cultured and distrib led by Dr. Ravindra Joshi, a crop protec uted in different lowland areas of the coun tion specialist at the Department of Agri try and now has become one of the major culture-Philippine Rice Research Institute pest problems in rice production. (DA-PhilRice) discovered that GAS can In Argentina. GAS is not a problem survive in cool, elevated areas as demon according to Dr. Nestor Cazzaniga of the strated by a large number of GAS in the Universidad Nacional del Sur Departmento IRT, which is 4,000-5,000 ft above sea de Biologia. Although rice is not a staple level. food in Argentina, large portions of lands Unaware of the possible threats posed are planted to rice because it is exported. by GAS, rural folks in the IRT brought it Because its production is highly mecha from the lowland areas for human and aniA female golden apple snail can lay about nized, 25- fields are properly leveled and wa mal consumption and for weed control.320 strawberry pink eggs at one time. Theseter is well-managed and controlled, mak Rice seedlings raised in the lowland areas, eggs mature in about 10-15 days ing it less prone to GAS infestation. which could have borne eggs or hatchlings, The first report on GAS infestation in were also transplanted in the IRT particu the Philippines came out in 1986 when larly in the upper terraces. GAS was spread EDITOR'S NOTE about 300 ha of irrigated lowland rice fields all over the IRT through the terrace irriga in Region 2 were heavily damaged. In the You may well ask why a rice paper in an tion system. same year, farmers in the IRT started to aquaculture newsletter? "We need a new notice the same. By 1988, GAS has already The International Rice Research Insti solution to the old golden apple snail prob tute (IRRI) library website http://www ( . lem, and an integrated approach with damaged about 4% of the country's total ricelib.irri.cgiar.org) shows some 65 refer fishfarming may be the answer," explains rice area and in 1990, the damage reached ences indicating that GAS research has Dr. Ravindra Joshi, a PhilRice research 11%. been concentrated in the lowland areas. As fellow, when he visited SEAFDEC/AQD on a result, most of the control measures esJanuary 25. Me presents this problem inGAS invasion in neighboring tablished cannot be applied in the IRT be the hope that researchers on aquaculturecountries cause of its unique characteristics. Currentmay become interested enough to workA study conducted by Drs. Yoichi Yusa and with him. Dr. Joshi can be reached at: GAS research in cool, elevated areas looks Takashi Wada of the Kyushu National Ag
SEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture Vol. XXII No. 1 January-February 2000 11 golden kuhol menace by dancel & joshi
Handpicking is still one o f the most practical methods in controlling The golden apple snail can damage newly planted rice seedlings the golden apple snail population overnight
introduction and culture of GAS in Japanan province, an experiment on the usetion of of the government. started as early as 1964 when a companyfishes such as black amur and tilapia in In 1991, it was introduced in Cambo introduced it as an aquarium pet. It becamecontrolling GAS shows considerable reducdia through refugees who returned from popular as food in the early 1980s buttion the in GAS density to as high as 84% fromThailand. Farmers in Takeo intentionally production later declined because peoplesummer to autumn and 64% from winterraised it in their fields as food, just as they did not like the taste of the snail. It was to spring. normally did with the native snailsPila ( later disposed into rivers, ponds, creeks, and It was only in 1990 that GAS was firstsp.). Since the native snails do not damage paddies. Damage to rice was reported in detected in a household tank in Malaysia.rice, farmers assumed the same for the 1984 and in the same year, GAS was deIts origin was unknown. Based on the size,GAS. One of the most popular attractants clared as a quarantine pest by the Ministryit was concluded that GAS had been thereused is the dragon bone plant, which is re of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Still,for some three to four years earlier. Theported to contain toxins. aquarium shops in Japan continued todisperson im of GAS in Malaysia was rela In Australia, the software package port and sell apple snails as pets. Naturaltively slow because of the coordinated efCLIMEX was used in matching the cli predators currently used include the waterforts of relevant authorities. Upon discovmates of geographical regions whereP. birds, fish, turtles, fireworm larvae, and ery of the GAS, the Department of Agricanaliculata is known to occur with that crabs. culture formed the GAS Task Force at theof other regions in the world. The match In Thailand, it was introduced in 1982national level. Small working committeesing showed that large regions within India. from Japan and Taiwan. Mainly used aswere also formed at the district level to China, and Australia are at risk for future decoration in aquariums, GAS rapidly mulmonitor the status of infestation and resultsGAS invasion. tiplied and eventually produced excessof control measures employed. In selected stocks, which were thrown away andareas, effective control measures includeControl methods reached canals and rivers. The first GAS the use of salt water, pesticides, snail metal The GAS are most often found in moist outbreak was recorded in 1988 southtraps, of and natural predators such as ducks.soils with vegetation, commonly in rice Bangkok. Several indigenous plants thatAn on-going trial on the integration ofpaddies. fish They appear to be very still as they have been used to control it include thein rice culture has reported promising retightly stick to the stems of rice plants and golden dewdrop Duranta( repens), mafia sults. burrow into the clayey soil when soil mois nok kumAmmannia ( bacifera), pla khum A year later after GAS was discovered ture declines. Their clustered pinkish eggs dee kwai, and soapberry treeSapindus ( in Malaysia,Pomacea sp. was found in aremain pasted on leaves and stems. Tiny semarginatus). farmer's fishpond in Lao PDR. GAS startedand fragile as they appear, the GAS have In Vietnam, it was introduced in 1988to invade neighboring fields when heavyhigh survival rates. An experiment con from South America and declared as a quarrains flooded the pond causing it to over-ducted by the group of Joshi demonstrates antine pest in 1993. By 1997, it has alreadyflow. It was in 1993, when it damaged aboutthat GAS can still survive during fallow spread to 7 out of the 61 provinces. In Nghe5 ha o f rice that it was brought to the atten page 31
12 SEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture Vol. XXII No. 1 January-February 2000 • Testing with different immune functions role of vitamins ... from page 10 must include the mechanism by which a single nutrient accelerates different biological functions The safety level of vitamin E has to be• Safety levels of different vitamins must determined before administration (Waagbobe determined before administration 1994). According to Pulsforde t al. (1995), • For antioxidant vitamins, care should be the phagocytic activity of kidneytaken to avoid losses due to atmospheric macrophages in flat fishes were enhancedoxidation and water leaching by using when the fishes were fed higher amountsthe recommended type such as phos of vitamin E. phate esters of ascorbic acid • More work is needed for vitamins C and Conclusion E supplementation beyond minimum di Still no clear conclusions can be drawn withetary requirements to clarify the benefits respect to vitamin nutrition and fish immuto fish health. So, metabolism of nutri nity. So, attention should be given to tionalim C and E forms needs further in prove the earlier recommended levels forvestigative biochemistry different vitamins. COMPLETE LITERATURE CITATION MAY BE REQUESTED FROM THE CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
golden apple snail ... from page 12 periods and possibly even during theTABLE dry 1 Volume of molluscicides Molluscicides have been widely used period, as these burrow deep into the soil. purchased, 1980-1998, to control GAS but these can also kill non A female GAS can lay 25-320 eggs at Philippines pest snails and other beneficial organisms. one time. Incubation ranges from 10 to 15 From 1980 to 1988, the volume of mollus VOLUME YEAR cicides purchased increased (Table 1). The days, and, depending on the temperature (kg per ha) of the microenvironment, GAS normally biggest volume recorded was in 1997, when lives from two to three years. The GAS do 1998 67,340 about 241,683 kg per ha were purchased. not feed only on rice. They also damage1997 241,683 The country has already spent about US$23 many cultivated and non-cultivated plants1996 130.000 million from 1980 to 1998 for such a lotusNelumbo ( nucifera), taro 1992 180 molluscicides (Fig. 1). (Colocasia esculenta), duckweedLenna ( 1991 159 The Strategic Extension Campaign 0 minor L.), swamp cabbageIpomoea ( 1990 launched in 1989 by the Food and Agricul 1989 25 aquaica), mat rush Juncus( decipiens), wa ture Organization (FAO) of the United Na 1988 64 tions, Visayas State College of Agriculture ter chestnutTrapa ( bicornis), and water 1987 9 (VISCA), International Rice Research In fern Azolla ( spp.). It has a wide range of 1986 6 possible hosts and food substrate such1985 as 3 stitute (IRRI) and DA-PhilRice introduced commercial livestock feeds, decaying mat1984 3 non-chemical methods such as pasturing ter, animal flesh, and other important crops.1983 0 ducks in rice fields after harvest, Because of this, GAS is difficult to con 1982 0 handpicking, destroying egg clusters before trol. Compounding this problem is the oc1981 0 final harrowing, transplanting older seed 0 currence of heavy rains and the application1980 lings, and installation of screens in water inlets. These practices however, remain of pesticides that kill a large number ofNo te: Does not include 1993-1995 data beneficial organisms, particularly in andSource: Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, 1999untested in the rainfed, direct-seeded, and around the rice ecosystem. page
SEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture Vol. XXII No. 1 January-February 200031 golden apple snail ... fr previous page hybrid rice production environments. Joshi's team is currently conducting intensive GAS research focusing on life ta ble analysis, off-season survival strategies, and crop compensation. According to Joshi, knowledge on the biology of the GAS can lead us to discovering more effective con trol measures. He also said that current con trol measures are not very effective if not done at the community level.
GAS study at DA-PhilRice FIG 1 Total amount spent for golden apple snail control using molluscicides, 1980-1998, Studies conducted by DA-PhilRice aimed Philippines (from FPA 1999) to establish the effectiveness of basal ap plication in the reduction of GAS popula tion and (he relation of GAS shell length to rice seedling damage. Results showed that GAS with shell length of 40 mm are most destructive to rice seedlings, while GAS with shell length of 5 mm and below were not capable of destroying rice seedlings (Fig. 2). Another study documented the cur rent status of GAS infestation in the IRT. The study was conducted in collaboration with the local government units (LGU) of the municipalities of Banaue, Mayoyao, and Hungduan and with DA, Lagawe, Ilugao. The study focused on the extent of damage and distribution; and knowledgeFIG 2 The effect of different golden apple snail sizes on rice seedling damage. Bars sharing the same letters are not significantly different (P<0.05) according to Duncan’s and current control practices applied by Multiple Range Test (DMRT) farmers. Majority of farmers in the lowland areas uses molluscicides, while others chose to handpick the GAS and pasturein rice culture because of a number of Cad. carpio andMylopharyngodon piceus ducks in the fields. In the IRT, farmers usevantages such as controlling pests, increaswere released to control GAS. However, it indigenous plants and decaying weedsing ascash and non-cash income and theis alsonu very important to assess the safety attractants, the most popular of which is tritionalthe intake of farm households. A studyof plants with molluscicidal activity against trumpet flower. conducted by ICLARM in 1996 at Quirinofishes that feed on GAS. province showed that there is potential for Prospects for further research rice-fish culture in upland areas. REFERENCES A more intensive study on the biology Theof least explored area of GAS reAdalla CB and Rejesus BM. 1989. The golden the GAS is needed to develop more effecsearch in the Philippines is the use ofapple snail,Pomacea sp.: A serious pest of aquatic predators such as fish, frogs, toads,lowland rice in the Philippines. In: I Henderson tive control measures. One possible solu (ed). Slugs and Snails in the World, p 417- tion is the use of indigenous plants andas at other water-borne organisms. Dr.422. Thorton Heath: British Crop Protection tractants. In the lowland areas, farmers useMatthias Halwart of FAO, Rome says that Council kangkongIpomea ( aquatica), sweet potato the common carp,Cyprinus carpio and (Ipomea batatas), and papayaCarica ( pa Oreochromis niloticus can be used in con next page paya) as attractants. trolling the juvenile stage of GAS. In Tai Another promising method is integratwan, more than a million fingerlings of the ing fish in the rice culture. Fish is integrated
32 SEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture Vol. XXII No. 1 January-February 2000 Ali J Bidin, Z Romli Zulkifli and Sin T. 1998, Pomacea sp. in rice fields: Malaysian experi catfish Phil ... from p 24 SEAFDEC protocol ... from p 19 ences. Paper presented at the Interntl Work shop on Integrated Management of Golden Apple Snail in Rice Production. 4-6 Aug 1998,Summary running water and then placed inside the Nghe an, Vietnam The catfish industry in the Philippinesincubators. is Incubators can be made of Anonymous. 1998. Use of fishes in controlling golden snail in Nghe an Province. Paper prebudding and projected to expandmarine in the plywood or plastic basin with a sented at the Interntl Workshop on Integratedcoming years. This is evident from converflow-through water system and provided Management of Golden Apple Snail in Ricesations with active catfish farmers who allwith aeration. Production. 4-6 Aug 1998, Nghe an, Vietnamhope to be able to expand production,Pituitary glands can be dissected from Baker GH. 1998. The golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck) (Mollusca: whether backyard or commercial becausethe heads of sacrificed male catfish. Pitui Ampulla-riidae), a potential invader of freshtheir present production can hardly supplytary glands contain hormone(s) that can also water habitats in Australia. Paper presentedthe demands of buyers. be used to spawn the female catfish in sub at the Sixth Australasian Applied Entomologi NIFTDC a fisheries technology andsequent runs. cal Research Conference, The University of development center in Dagupan City, how Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 29 Sept - Fertilization and hatching 02 Oct 1998 ever, says that unless the government has a Chanyapate C. 1998. The golden apple snailcatfish program, expansion of the industryUsing the above procedure, fertilization rate problem in Thailand. Paper presented at thewould be slow. Work on catfish researchcan is reach more than 90%, while hatching Interntl Workshop on Integrated Management rate may range from 30 to 70%. When only just starting and the culture methods of Golden Apple Snail in Rice Production. 4- stripped, there are approximately 100 eggs 6 Aug 1998, Nghe an, Vietnam remain to be on a gut feel basis. The farm Dong L. 1998. Golden apple snail and prelimiers are left to survive on their own. Luckper gram body weight of the female fish; nary study on its control in Vietnam. Paper about 500 eggs are contained in one gram. ily for them, catfish is hardy, easy to grow, presented at the Interntl Workshop on Inte and has a growing market. Clearly, if catA female catfish has 20-25 g of stripped grated Management of Golden Apple Snail in eggs on the average. Rice Production. 4-6 Aug 1998, Nghe anfish can provide cheap protein for more Vietnam people, scientific support must be madeHatchery and nursery rearing Halwart MI. 1994. The golden apple snailavailable for the farmers. Pomacea canaliculata in Asian rice farming Larvae can be maintained for four days in systems: present impact and future threat. the same incubators without feeding. Cat International Journal of Pest Management 40 POSTSCRIPT fish larvae are then transferred to bigger (2): 199-206 The Mangabol Lake (located between tanks and fed with newly hatchedArtemia Joshi RC, de la Cruz MS, Martin EC, Cabigat the provinces of Pangasinan and nauplii for three days Moinaand for four JC, Bahatan RF, Bahatan AD, Choy-Awon J, Tarlac) used to be the biggest source Chilagan NP, and Cayong AB. 1999. Current of catfish (native or hitong tagalog,C. days. Thereafter, larvae are given formu status of the golden apple snail in the Ifugao macrocephalus) in Luzon, perhaps lated feed of 150-200 microns size that con rice terraces, Philippines. Department of Ag tains 44% protein. Two week-old catfish riculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute, even the Philippines (Philippine Fish Maligaya, Munoz, Nueva Ecija, 47 pp eries, 1952). An annual festival used fry can be sold to grow-out pond operators, Phachomphonh B and Ketelaar J. 1998. Golden to be held in the area, according to who are advised to rear the fry in net cages apple snails in the Lao PDR. Paper presented people in Bautista, Pangasinan. Fish suspended in either tanks or ponds. Or, the at the Interntl Workshop on Integrated Maners from all over Luzon would gather fry are reared further for 4-6 weeks in big agement of Golden Apple Snail in Rice Pro in Mangabol Lake, and on the day of ger nursery tanks or ponds to reach 3-5 cm. duction. 4-6 Aug 1998, Nghe an, Vietnam the festival, a fog horn would sound Rejesus BM, Sayaboc AS and Joshi RC. 1988. the appropriate size for stocking in grow- and fishers simultaneously dive into The distribution and control of the introduced out ponds': golden snail(Pomacea sp.) in the Philippines. the lake with their snare. The diver Paper presented at the symposium on the who got the biggest catch would win Packaging and transport a prize (usually prestige). But the Introduction of Germplasm and Plant Quar Catfish fry are counted and graded accord antine Procedures, PLANTI. Gelanampong, 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption overran Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 14-15 December the lake and Mangabol Lake remains ing to size, and then placed inside a plastic 1988 to be unproductive until the presentbag half-filled with water at 500 to 1000 Somony C. 1998. A short review of the golden time. fry per bag. The bag is thereafter oxygen apple snail in Cambodia. Paper presented at ated and tied. Native "bayong" bags may the Interntl Workshop on Integrated Manage AcknowledgementThe writers thank the following ment of Golden Apple Snail in Rice Produc be used to hold the plastic bags in, when for their kind assistance while gathering data: NIFTDC tion. 4-6 Aug 1998, Nghe an, Vietnam transporting a short distance only. When Officer-in-Charge Mr. Westly Rosario, Kathy, and Yusa Y and Wada T. 1999. Impact of the intro Manang of NIFTDC, Ms. Soledad Cruz of the Bulacantransporting by plane however, the plastic duction of apple snail and their Control in Ja Provincial Agriculture Office, Mr. Manuel Igharasbags of me better placed in styrofoam boxes pan. The ICLARM Quarterly 22 (3): 9-13 the Municipal Agriculture Office of Pandi, Bulacan,with crushed ice filled to the brim.—NJD ### and Mr. Cesar Recio, NoelBong Claudio, andMang Nestor Lico of SEAFDEC Manila Office.
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