Possibility of Pesticide-free Cultivation in Environmentally Friendly Citrus Farming

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the possibility of undertaking pesticide-free cultivation in environmentally friendly citrus farming. To approach this task, we conducted a survey of an organic citrus production organization in Ehime prefecture. The survey results show that there were only a few orchards where pesticide-free cultivation practices were undertaken, because disease and insect damage often occurs wherever the citrus fruit unshu was produced. Meanwhile, there were many cases where pesticide-free cultivation practices were undertaken, vis-à-vis medium-and late-maturing citrus.On comparing farming incomes on a 10-acre basis, it was found that incomes derived from farming that involved pesticide-free cultivation were lower than that involving low-pesticide cultivation.