Protecting pomegranate from pests

The pomegranate crop is one of the most important crops in Jabal Akhdhar area, with thousands of trees, constituting the main income of the farmers. The pomegranate butterfly Virachola livia causes serious damage to the yield if no control measures are applied to limit the pest population development. This insect lays its eggs on the fruit of pomegranate and when the egg hatches, the larvae penetrate the skin of the fruit and enter inside and damage the fruit. As part of a biological pest control drive, millions of trichogramme parasites were released recently into pomegranate fruit trees in Jabal Akhdhar. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries undertake this project each year since 2003 to control the moth which began to attack the fruit in a serious manner in 2002. Hundreds of farms come under the beneficiaries of this project in addition to trees planted in government institutions and homes. A farming research team follows up the parasite activity on a weekly basis. The overall supervision and management is carried out by the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Livestock in the Dhakhiliyah Governorate and the agricultural development department in the Jabal Akhdhar. The pomegranate crop in Jabal Akhdhar is recognised as the finest crop of its kind in the Sultanate. Farmers in Jabal Akhdhar wait impatiently for pomegranate season each year with the beginning of August as it enjoys a wide reputation in the local markets, especially in Nizwa Souq, which receives large amounts of pomegranates. The implementation of biological control by spreading a specialist parasite on the eggs of the pomegranate butterfly is considered as the most eco-friendly method to control the pest. Biological control through the manual removal of eggs and the distribution of web bags that prevent the arrival of the insect to the fruits of the pomegranate is also practised by farmers to protect the fruit. It is believed that the pomegranate was one of the first cultivated fruits inthe world. Some scholars believe that the pomegranate was native to Iran and the Himalayas in Northern India, then cultivated over the whole Mediterranean region of Asia, Africa and Europe, migrating as far east as China. The plant organs of the pomegranate have been used to ameliorate an array of common diseases. The pomegranate tree has been extensively used as a traditional medicine in many cultures including Oman. The most famous usage worldwide has been as a vermifugal or taenicidal agent (a killer and expeller of intestinal worms). The alkaloids contained in the root tree bark, and to a lesser extent fruit rind, cause the “tapeworm to relax its grip on the wall of the intestine” thus allowing the weakened parasites to be easily expelled. The strong astringency of the pomegranate hulls make them a popular remedy in the form of an aqueous decoction for dysentery, diarrhoea and stomatitis. Although pomegranate is cultivated in many parts of the world, earlier reports in the literature have acknowledged the superior quality of pomegranates are grown in Oman. During a research study by SQU on post-harvest technology and quality management of Omani fresh produce most local and imported fruit and vegetables in the Omani market were surveyed and analysed for nutrient contents and in particular for vitamin C and other antioxidants beside antimicrobial studies. It was noticed that pomegranate grown in Jabal Akhdhar was found in quality because of the suitable environment for its growth. Pomegranate cultivation is now a very important part of the local economy in Jabal Akhdhar area, and it appears that news about the excellent quality of Omani pomegranate as reported more than 150 years ago has re-emerged.