The most easiest way to decrease the amount of the pesticides you use, is by applying a more precise application. But before you can do so, you will need to have a precise analytic overview of current pest and disease pressure in your greenhouse.
A smart electronic tool for quick data collecting system can help pest scouts improve their efficiency. This enables your team to spend their time looking for pests and diseases in the crop, and very little on data entry. GPS and timestamps on all records let you know exactly where your scouts were and how effectively they are working.
Such a system was developed by Scarab Solutions, an international company active in the field of precise agriculture solutions. They research and developed several innovative pest scouting solutions. It comes as an entire suite, including devices to take into the field, as well as analytic data software and support.
This scout is using a Scarab device in a Mexican bell pepper greenhouse
Growers using scarab have the opportunity to track all of their scouts, see what they have spotted, where, how often, in what kind of conditions. Digital maps show you precisely where your pests and diseases are located allowing you to target your interventions and make the most of your chemicals and biological agents. Charts and tables help you keep track of developments.
Different reports target different people on your team, from those that just need the overview, to those that need to know every detail. Another nice feature: Anonymous benchmarking against other farms in your area tell you how well you’re doing.
"With our tools we have been supporting the flower industry in improving profit, lowering use of chemicals and supporting a better quality production", explained Luis Trujillo of Scarab. He said that the flower industry in Kenya, Ecuador and Colombia was their initial market. Now Scarab is ready to enroll in what some describe as the biggest growth market for greenhouse vegetable cultivation. "Since last year we have entered the precision agriculture market in Mexico by supporting local IPM strategies in greenhouse crops such as tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber and eggplant."
A map with greenhouses, showing the concentrations of pests and diseases.
As Mexican greenhouse farmers by nature are interested in modern agriculture technology to improve their day to day operations, Scarab's system will be a welcome addition to many growers. It can help them make more efficient use of scarce labour and decrease their use of (bio)-pesticides. As well as this, the use of beneficial insects can be taken to the next level with a better targeted introduction.
Trujillo stressed that it is the highest time to change how the world targets crop pests and diseases. “We want to give our customers the possibility of being more efficient in their actual production surface following new environmental and social conditions with the reduction of chemical product usage."
For more information:
Luis Eduardo Trujillo
Business Development Manager
Mexico
+52 1 5561838388