Country Slovenia

AGROHOMEOPATHY ancient knowledge for sustainable farming

Subtitle / abstract First experiences with Drosophila suzukii controll without PPP
Domain of activity
  • Arboriculture
  • Agriculture
  • Management of environment
Support of the practice documentation interview, notes from meetings, field visits, photos, media release
Place of experiment Slovenian part of Istra peninsula, S Slovenia
Description of experiment A group of small fruits producers from Primorska region were actively searching for alternative strategy to fight Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii. They contacted mrs. M. Ortan, who is an owner of company dealing with agrohomeopathy. After a number of meetings dicussing the problem ing. Ortan developed custom made agrohomeopathy preparation. The use of agrohomeopathy was tested in real circumstances on cherry plantations in Slovenian part of Istra (S Slovenia) in season 2015, where first pests were recorded in 2010. To prevent the damage by Spotted wing drosophila mrs. Ortan developed, the preparation Cora agrohomeopathie X104 NaturSTOP CONTRA Drosophila suzukii. The agrohomeopathyc concentrate was diluted ( 10 ml in 10 l water) and activated by shaking. It was put into reservoir of common spraying device and applicaded accoring to instructions. Till the mid of june no damaged fruits could be detected despite the occurrence of spotted wing drosophila in the orchard was proven by traps. The use of Cora agrohomeopathie X104 NaturSTOP-CONTRA Drosophila suzukii preparation showed good results.
More information Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura is one of the most invasive pests of small stone fruit originating from Southeastern Asia. Attacking all kinds of healthy soft- and thin-skinned fruit crops it poses a big economic threat to small fruits growing. There are little possibilities to fight against the pest and only few insecticide active compounds are limited successful but there is growing environmental concern connected to their use. Alternative strategies as traps and cultural management practices have limited success and are time and resource consuming. The possibility of the natural enemies’ introduction is problematic since many of them don't survive in northern hemisphere weather conditions. There is also a lack of knowledge and research about them. As all other Cora agrohomeopathie™ products the concentrate was designed by agrohomeoptay researcher and practitioner mrs. Majda Ortan. Agronomists, fruit growing professionals and farmers’ advisors joined in testing the preparation. First experiences with Cora agrohomeopathie X104 NaturSTOP CONTRA Drosophila suzukii use had shown very promising results.
Succes factor The most important potential success factor is growing farmers awareness about need for more sustainable agricultural practices with lower impact to environment and humans. The approach is bottom up oriented, where producers explained their troubles, needs and characteristics of the pest to author of preparate. The agroecological knowledge is directly transferred from practitioners to the producer of agrohomeoptahy preparation. Possibility of use of local resources of raw material and production of custom made preparations. Technology is not demanding and is easy to use. It enables production of high quality energetic live food and fodder. Possibility of use of the approach and innovative technology in all sectors of horticulture, crop production and indirectly also on animal breeding is another factor of possible success.
Met difficulties Lack of information, low understanding and common perception of (agro)homeopathy in Slovenia Scepticism about success of the practice between target groups.
Contact ing. Majda ORTAN
Contact email ortan.m@gmail.com
Address Agrohomeopatija za rastline in škodljivce Ing. Majda Ortan s.p. Ob Meži 30 2391 Prevalje SLOVENIA
Town Prevalje, Slovenia
Website http://cora-agrohomeopathie.com/
Author of the index card dr. Janko Rode
Author Structure Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia
Author Email janko.rode@kgzs.si