CONSIDERATIONS ON PESTS AND DISEASES

• Crops that are new to an area are likely to be initially free of pest and disease attack, but the threat will build up quickly with continuous cultivation.
  
  
• Preventing build up of pests by crop rotation and biological or integrated methods of control is preferable where feasible to chemical control.
  
  
• Risks of pesticide residue are particularly critical with food products. If chemical applications are unavoidable and cannot be reliably controlled and traced, the area is likely to be unsuitable for export horticulture.

Related Information: Considerations on cultivation methods ; erosion control; irrigation; flood control; soil fertility