Jeson Geroche

   The study was conducted to determine the socio demographic profile of cacao farmers as well as to assess the pest incidence and management practices of cacao farmers in Compostela Valley and to analyze agro-ecological situation using Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis.    There were 347 respondents involved to study. The municipalities involved were Monkayo, Maragusan, Nabunturan, Montevista, Laak and Maco with the duration of five months (January to May 2019).    Results showed that majority of the cacao farmers falls within the age group 45 to 55 years old, male, married, Cebianao, Christian, 1 to 3 children and elementary graduates. Majority of them had more than 10 years of farming experience, annual income in cacao farming was P50,000 below, cacao farm was less than one hectare. Cacao farms were almost found in sloppy areas, clay loam, light brown, elevation was 100 meters below sea level and intercropped. Cacao trees were grafted, seedlings were came from government, number of bearing trees 50 below, non-bearing trees below, no proper planting distance and had no proper pruning interval. Cacao farmers did not perform soil analysis, mostly used native varieties, they didn’t used synthetic fertilizer, they used organic fertilizers. SWOT analysis revealed that the soil texture and topographical of the cacao farms in the province are suitable for growing cacao and there is growing demand of cacao that provides opportunity to cacao farmers. The cacao farmers also have more than years cacao farming experience and almost of them are the owners of the cacao farm. However, the four most detrimental insect pest and diseases of cacao such as cacao mired bug, cacao pod borer, black pod rot and vascular streak dieback were all present in the province in moderately severe to severe infestation/infection. In addition, the management practices implemented in cacao farms were only cultural and chemical control.   Keywords: Cacao, Insect pests, Diseases, Management practices, Compostela Vally

       Black pod rot of cacao caused by Phytophthora sp. is one of the major diseases of cacao production worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the selected biological control agents (Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Trichoderma harzianum) against cacao pod rot caused by Phytophthora sp. in In vitro condition and detached pod test. The experiment was conducted at the Davao de Oro State College’s Crop Science Laboratory and arranged in a completely randomized design. Dual culture test and detached pod test by wounding method were done to evaluate the efficacy of biological control agents (BCAs) against cacao pod rot caused by Phytophthora sp. Among the BCAs, Bacillus subtilis show strong antagonistic effect against Phytophthora sp. at seven days of incubation as indicated by a 76.01% inhibition In vitro. In detached pod test, at 14 days of incubation, the lowest disease incidence and severity were recorded in pods treated with T. harzianum and B. subtilis. Their comparable effects to Phytophthora inoculated pods were described as not severe. The efficacy offered by T. harzianum and B. subtilis application provided a moderately effective degree of control. Based on this result, these two BCAs are potential alternative to chemical application since their individual effects are comparable to the later. Keywords: Detached pod of cacao, Phytophthora sp., Biological control agents,Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Trichoderma harzianum