Why Is Chemical Control Helpful For Eradicating Kuhol (Rice Snail)?

Crop Protection, from the preparation of tillage, beddings and ditch canals for water-based plants such as rice. One thing farmers have is the knowledge to protect their plants from all things, including pest as insects, weeds, birds, rodents, and the highlights of this blog, the mollusks or people also called TGK "The Golden Kuhol". From the field alone, taking care wasn't start from fertilization buts instead from "weed control" or the application of Herbicides; the seed must be treated with fungicides and many more. Another thing that is costly and hard not to be made is the chemicals that control the snails or what we call Molluscicide.

Last time I also published a blog [The Story Of Golden Kuhol (Pomacea canaliculata) In The Philippines] that relates to the story of the Golden Kuhol in the Philippines, how it wasn't native and became a problematic invasive pest in agriculture; it says how becomes the proposed help the farmers to increase profits by a sense of demands for protein source but ended catastrophe in the Philippines agricultural sectors. Now the reality is that farming and chemicals are working both for good, thou there were so many issues with the chemical application. In my field, it's never been that negative. It gets more and more losses when we don't apply chemicals.

WHAT ARE THE GASTOPODS?

To understand the Kuhol and all the mollusks, we must also understand the gastropods, or the family of shells; Gastropods already invade the water and land, even the forest. You can find some snails and slugs everywhere; they were underrated. They also have ecological participation, such as grazing weeds, becoming decomposers and everything. But when failure comes and they go to a place where they don't belong to be, destroying the natural ecology, that's come they become now a pest and need to control. Gastropods are those snails and slugs, a broad specific kind of animal.

WHAT ARE MOLLUSCICIDES?

One of the thing that made my practice as an Agriculturist is that people in my place ask me if I know someone who could sell them chemicals, well I also have friends and just ping them that farmers needs, no commission and free consultation, what else I could do, they were my community where I belong.

Molluscicide is the chemical that controls pests, specifically snails, and it's either pellets, granules, liquid or wettable powders. Companies always have their branding and naming, but it's always close to the formulation. That's how the chemical manufacturers work in the Philippines; no company is allowed to formulate with solid chemicals, and imprisonment and fine will be fortieth years.

Most product that was widely available had only 5% active ingredients, which was considered low and safe, but lethal to 80% of the adult and juvenile slugs on the farm, but the practice and sprays weren't only for one cycle; spraying Molluscicide must be intervals, especially the stage of early development.

To understand more about the development of rice plants and why they were affected by snails, transplanting that's the most crucial stage, where everything will affect the plant's continued growth. From the sun shade, lack of water, and predators. Snails eat the plant stems, which positively results in dead plants and a low harvest rate for the farmers.

They were wettable powders that would be dissolved when applied to the sprayers. It contains the main formula of metal salt, relatively weak but good as just control for manifestation. Still, more brands and strong chemicals were ready for their sudden peak in the population and virulence.

ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES RATHER THAN CHEMICALS?

Thou the chemicals allowed in the production of Molluscicide was weak, and the active ingredient was low. Still, there were issues with chemical control as it could affect nature. Some alternatives have been used, one of the manual pickings of the snails, which was quite a laborious job, second is the frequent irrigation, which wasn't that good as water doesn't available all the time, sometimes introducing the natural predator of the snails were introduce by some farmers. Still, some who understand more don't want.

Introducing ducks (peeking duck) fish or plant repelled is ineffective but causes more extravagant loads for the farmers. Ducks or the (Mag-iitik) only eat the mature kuhol, not the eggs; some ruin the alleyway of the fields, and others cause irritation for the farmers afterwards; they said that water from the area becomes itchy-for the farmers, which causes them avian-related diseases.

More things are hidden on the farm; some are scientific and need understanding. Chemicals and humans benefit from each other; we need proper timing, application and human experience.

We are not JUST farmers. We were hiding something else in the people's eyes; being farmers also needs innovation.