Organic Fruit and Vegetables from the Tropics

The designations used and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations Secretariat concerning the legal status of any country or territory. In addition to co-supervising the book's development at various stages, the Swiss Import Promotion Program (SIPPO) wrote Part C on market development and potential. This book could not have been prepared without the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and above all without the tireless efforts of the many people who were involved in the production of the book.

Thus, in the UK, demand for organic products is currently increasing by 40% per year, while supply is increasing by only 25%1. Developing countries can thus have a relative comparative advantage in the world market for organic fruits and vegetables. Governments were urged to implement supportive policies and take a proactive role in promoting the development of the organic sector.

This book on "Organic production of fruits and vegetables in the tropics and international trade" fills the gap: on the one hand, organic production methods are not yet well established in the tropics, and on the other hand, the largest share of emerging markets for organic products has gone to farmers in the north. It is our hope that this book will contribute to the creation of new and sustainable incomes for many smallholder farmers and also to good business for all links in the supply chain to emerging markets.

SIPPO)

Philosophy and Principles of Organic Agriculture

Definition and Principles
Distinction From Other Farming Systems
Why Organic Agriculture?
Development of Organic Agriculture

Some of the biomass is eaten by various animals (including insects), and their excrement returns nutrients to the soil. Some of these neglected plantations have achieved organic certification as they meet the minimum criteria of the standards. In the context of agriculture, sustainability refers to the successful management of agricultural resources to meet human needs while maintaining or enhancing the quality of the environment and conserving natural resources.

In many countries, population density has increased enormously and many traditional farming systems have failed to meet farmers' yield expectations. Organic farming attempts to meet the increased needs of the growing population without compromising the long-term productivity of the agricultural land. It must be recognized that with the help of the technologies of the Green Revolution, crop yields have increased enormously, especially in the temperate zones.

As the negative impact of the Green Revolution on health and the environment became more apparent in the 1970s and 80s, awareness of "green" issues slowly increased among both farmers and consumers. The success of organic farming in these countries is mainly due to increased consumer awareness of health and environmental issues, the involvement of marketing (e.g. supermarkets) and increasingly supportive national policies.

Soil Management and Soil Nutrition

The Soil – A Living Organism
Soil Cultivation and Tillage
Green Manures and Cover Crops
Mulching
Associating Crops and Crop Rotation
Soil and Plant Nutrition
Nutrient Recycling on the Farm

The greater the diversity of species and the greater their number, the greater the natural fertility of the soil. Earthworms accelerate biomass decomposition by removing dead plant material from the soil surface. But tillage can also damage soil fertility as it accelerates erosion and humus decomposition.

Depending on the cropping system and soil type, suitable tillage patterns should be developed. Reducing the erosive power of rain falls by keeping the soil covered (with vegetation or mulch). With their roots, they directly increase the nitrogen content of the soil and create soil organic matter.

As mulch material breaks down, it increases the organic matter content of the soil. Tillage improves soil aeration and increases the activity of soil microorganisms.

Minimize Losses

The farmer adjusts the rotation in such a way that the demand and supply of nutrients (eg nitrogen from legumes, nutrients from the green manure crop) are matched in the best possible way (chapter 1.2.5). If microorganisms find suitable conditions for their growth, they can be very efficient in digesting nutrients and making them available to plants. It is clear that the export of nutrients with market commodities and losses through leaching and volatilization and erosion cannot be completely avoided.

Leaching of soluble nutrients from stored manure and compost can be prevented by proper sheltering and storage. This can be prevented by maintaining a dense plant cover and with constructions such as terraces. The highest losses occur during the first two hours after manure is applied to the field.

Therefore, yard manure should be applied in the evening as cool night temperatures and the higher humidity reduce the losses. Farm yard manure and slurry must be brought out in quantities that the plants can absorb in a short time.

Closed Nutrient Cycles

Optimize Inputs

Composting
Selecting the Primary Materials
Setting up a Compost Heap
Turning the Compost

Pest and Disease Management
Weed Management
Seeds and Planting Material
Management of Semi-natural Habitats
Livestock Husbandry
Water Conservation and Irrigation
Agroforestry

The health of a plant largely depends on the fertility of the soil. Weeds have absorbed nutrients from the soil and these can be put back into the soil by using weeds as mulch or green manure. <. The importance and effectiveness of the different methods depend to a large extent on the weed species and environmental conditions.

This causes coagulation of the proteins in the leaves and a bursting of their cell walls. The integration of animal husbandry with crop-producing farms is one of the principles of organic farming. Health is a balance between disease pressure (the presence of germs and parasites) and the resistance (immune system and self-healing powers) of the animal.

The crumbly structure of the soil can be broken down, and soil particles can accumulate in the pores, resulting in the formation of a hard crust. There is a continuous but very gentle flow of water, allowing sufficient time for infiltration into the crop root zone.

Pioneer Phase

Secondary Forest Phase (Up to 10 Years)

Primary Forest

Conversion to Organic Farming

The Conversion Process
Ready for Conversion?
Conversion Planning

The Economic Performance of Organic Farms

Costs and Returns
Reducing Expenses
Ways to Increase the Returns

Citrus

Agro-ecological Requirements and Site Selection
Establishing an Organic Citrus Orchard
Soil Management
Tree Nutrition and Fertilization
Weed Control = Soil Cover + Management of Undesired
Water Management and Irrigation
Freeze Protection
Pruning
Harvesting and Post Harvest Handling

Guava

Establishing an Organic Guava Orchard
Soil and Weed Management
Freeze Protection
Pruning and Fruit Thinning

Lychee

Ecological Requirements
Establishing of Organic Lychee Orchard
Soil Nutrition and Fertilization
Pruning

Avocado

Establishing an Organic Avocado Orchard
Freeze Protection
Pruning

Coconut

Ecological Requirements
Organic Coconut Palm Production Systems
Soil Nutrition and Organic Fertilization

Bananas

Botany
Varieties and Countries of Origin
Uses and Contents
Site Requirements
Seeds and Seedlings
Methods of Planting
Diversification Strategies
Nutrients and Organic Fertilization Management
Biological Methods of Plant Protection
Monitoring and Maintenance
Harvesting and Post- Harvest Treatment
Product Specifications and Quality Standards

Mango

Botany
Uses and Contents
Aspects of Plant Cultivation
Planting Methods
Diversification Strategies
Crop Cultivation and Maintenance
Harvesting and Post-harvest Treatment

Pineapple 1. Botany

Uses and Contents
Aspects of Plant Cultivation
Planting Methods and Cultivation Systems

Planting Procedure
Crop Rotation
Flower Formation
Protection Against “Sunburns”
Protection Against “Sunburn”

Crop Cultivation and Maintenance
Harvesting and Post-harvest Treatment
Dates

SCOPE
DESCRIPTION
ESSENTIAL COMPOSITION AND QUALITY FACTORS
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
LABELLING
METHODS OF SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS
METHOD OF EXAMINATION

Pepper
Different Possible Processing Methods for Fruits
Beans
Tomato
Cabbage

It consists of a narrow strip (30-60 cm wide) of cover plants in the middle of the tree strip. The Brix is pumped to tank storage where the concentrate is stored at approximately -28°C, segregated by variety and Brix (acidity ratio). i) When the frozen orange is ready for shipment, it is mixed from different tanks to meet the customer's demand. j) The juice is transported deep-frozen in 200-liter barrels or in tank ships to the port of destination, and from there to the packing plant, where the juice is bottled and labeled. Dacus dorsalis • Eggs hatch and develop in the fetus, – Mass trapping (combination of food baits with organic insecticides such as Spionosad) (Oriental fruit fly) causing disintegration of fetal tissue – Release of braconid parasite Diachasmimorpha tryoni and nematodes.

The saying "the coconut tree likes to stand with its feet in the water and its head in the air" offers a very characteristic description of the site requirements of coconut trees. Different varieties are preferred in different regions (differences in . the taste, texture and color of the pulp etc.). Seedlings are used on mango plantations as rootstocks, onto which the boe are either grafted (slanted cuts of the same size in both tree trunk and rootstock are then tied together) or budded (the tree trunk is cut diagonally, while the bark of the rootstock is cut and then pulled out to form a bag. The fine is then pushed inside the bark and refastened) in tree nurseries.

With medium-tall trees (up to approx. 4 m), the fruits can be picked individually using a harvesting pole. All residues from pineapple production should be spread over the ground (composting or clippings). During the juvenile stage of the palm, shoots develop from the buds in the leaf axils.

All non-fruit components of the date palm (leaf axil bases, midrib, leaflets, spikelets, fruit stalks, sprouts) have a certain but limited value for ruminant nutrition (in natural environments with no or limited alternatives they should be used). The trees in the upper reaches of the primary forest usually do not need to be pruned. Additional information must be given on the can according to the sugar content of the syrup.

Weed management must be adapted to local conditions (precipitation, competition, etc.), weed species and crop.