New SENAR-PR course covers strawberry management

A set of control techniques that guarantees protection for agricultural crops, Integrated Disease Management (MID) minimizes damage caused by diseases in a more sustainable way. In the case of strawberries, the excessive use of pesticides, due to the sensitivity of the crop, makes MID an alternative to improve productivity and reduce chemical residues and, consequently, production costs.

It is in this context that the new MID course on strawberries, from SENAR-PR, comes into play. The training, with a 24-hour workload, is available to producers and workers involved with culture. During the training, participants will be able to learn about different types of diseases and their pathogens and monitoring and sampling techniques to define the best control measures.

“The course meets a demand in the field, due to the need for effective methods of disease prevention and control, and in the market, due to the demand for waste-free food”, highlights Vanessa Reinhart, technician from the Technical Department (Detec) of the FAEP System /SENAR-PR. “The practical classes are the difference, as the participant identifies diseases in real samples, in addition to observing the causal agents through microscopy, understanding the means of dissemination and facilitating understanding of how to prevent and control diseases”, she adds.

Samples will be collected by students at each meeting, in three different strawberry production areas. Therefore, a prerequisite for the course to take place is the availability of these areas to carry out practical activities.

“At the end of each class, a discussion will be held about diagnoses and the best management strategies. During the training, the participant will develop activities to implement the MID in strawberry production, based on the identification of disease-causing agents and analysis of the environment”, says Eneida Maria Dolci, SENAR-PR instructor.

Benefits

The MID allows the correct identification of the causal agents of diseases, in addition to the conditions favorable to the occurrence of these diseases and, consequently, the decision on the most appropriate management for control, prioritizing the minimization of environmental and economic impacts.

“Diseases generate concern and expenses with the crop, because, often, the symptoms on the plant are similar, creating doubts in the field. Integrated management addresses the importance of planning, from choosing healthy seedlings, suitable environment and growing conditions, which directly affect the diseases that affect strawberries”, explains the SENAR-PR instructor.

The main advantages of MID are related to economic and environmental issues, reducing the use of chemical products and, when used, prioritizing the application of the appropriate product in the correct way. In strawberries, the benefits are also related to the susceptibility of the crop to diseases that can cause plant mortality and even cause the loss of the entire production.

“Knowing the causal agents, ideal conditions and appropriate management for each disease provides the producer with the best use of control strategies, generating savings, lower impacts on the environment, lower risks of agrochemical residues and higher fruit quality” , highlights Eneida.

For producer Nanci Novak, from Araucária, the training came at the right time, as she was facing problems with nematodes in strawberries and production losses. “From the first class I was able to apply the knowledge. It is essential to identify diseases before they become serious contamination, especially since I work with organic products and cannot use chemical pesticides”, she explains.

On the two-hectare property, Nanci maintains 1 strawberry plants, as well as vegetables, all certified organic. Before MID, the producer took courses in

good agricultural practices in horticulture and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in strawberries, both from SENAR-PR.

Training is part of future certification

The MID course on strawberries is part of the technical cooperation agreement signed between the FAEP/SENAR-PR System and the Paraná Agricultural Defense Agency (Adapar), in December last year. The partnership includes a training program to qualify and certify strawberry producers in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba (RMC).

SENAR-PR is responsible for promoting the qualification of fruit growers, while Adapar monitors and delivers seals to properties that follow the precepts of Good Agricultural Practices (BPAs). The initiative will encourage sustainability in strawberry production, improving management on properties and, with the seal of inspected and approved production, adding value to production. For this certification, it will be required that the MID and MIP techniques be adopted, as well as the producer's participation in courses on each property undergoing the certification process.

Student of the first class of the new SENAR-PR course, producer Hélio Souza, from Lapa, is in the process of receiving certification from Adapar. “Inspection has already been to my site, as I meet all the requirements. All that’s left to do is complete the courses to get the seal”, says the producer, who intends to take the MIP course next. “My objective is to add value to be able to place a product on the market with a difference”, he adds.

Since the beginning of production in 2020, Souza has prioritized biological control, avoiding the application of chemical products. In his opinion, even with technical support, producer training is essential as he is involved in the property on a daily basis. “In practice, the diseases are microscopic and very similar. You have to have knowledge, especially because strawberries are extremely sensitive,” he says.