GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana government is calling for a Caribbean approach to deal with the deadly Black Sigatoka disease now affecting the plantain and banana industry in the region.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said the approach to dealing with the fungal disease would require the support and cooperation of all including researchers, regional institutions and farmers.
Persaud has written several regional agencies as well as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General, Edwin requesting that resources be made available to mount a regional response to the disease.
He said that there are reports of serious infestation in the Windward Islands, especially in Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago are also dealing with the disease.
In Guyana, significant acreages of plantain and banana have been affected by an outbreak of the Black Sigatoka disease and the Ministry of Agriculture has mounted a vigorous campaign to inform farmers and other stakeholders of the measures being taken to deal with the outbreak.
Bananas rank among the most valuable of agricultural export crops for several CARICOM countries, including Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.
Please note that Dominica is still Black Sigatoka free. Notwithstanding, i agree with the minister that regional approach /strategy would more likely bring about a long lasting and morre cost effective solution to this deadly fungal infestation.
What causes this disease? Government need to be more alert to what plants/seeds etc, bought into respective countries.