Cotton cultivation in the semi-arid region is the theme of a field day in Ceará

Cotton cultivation in the Semiarid region is the subject of a field day this Friday (22), at 7:30 am, at the Embrapa Algodão Experimental Station, in Barbalha, in Cariri, Ceará. The event, aimed at farmers, technicians and students in the field of agronomy, will address the various stages of fiber cultivation. Lectures will be held on the economic importance of cotton, plant ecophysiology, planting and cultural management, pests and diseases, application of pesticides, harvesting and storage and sanitary emptying, in addition to demonstrations of agricultural machinery.

Embrapa Algodão researcher Fábio Aquino de Albuquerque explains that raising awareness among producers about the importance of sanitary emptiness is one of the main objectives of the event. The sanitary void is a period that varies from 60 to 90 days, when it is prohibited to have cotton in the field. This is the most important strategy for managing the cotton boll weevil, the main pest of the crop, which, if not properly controlled, can make cotton cultivation unviable.

“The sanitary void must be strict and not allow host plants. The weevils remaining from plantations at the end of the harvest migrate to refuges, where they seek to feed on pollen from other species. As the insect cannot reproduce without ingesting cotton pollen, a significant part of the migrant population dies, reducing pest pressure in the following harvest”, says the researcher.

Theoretical and practical course

To reinforce these concepts and train producers and agents involved in cotton cultivation in Ceará, a theoretical and practical course is also being held this week. The program includes lectures on Planting and cultural management, Pest management and sanitary voids, Seed legislation, Technical Assistance, Ordinance on sanitary voids, Financing for the crop and presentation of the Cotton cultivation modernization program in the state of Ceará.