Fresh warnings have been issued here to guard against the Black Sigatoka, a fungal disease said to be threatening Dominica’s shores.
Black Sigatoka also known as black leaf streak devastates bananas and plantains. It has not been spotted here but the Ministry of Agriculture says it is close by and the threat is real.
“The disease is in Martinique and Martinique is a couple kilometers away from Dominica and we know we have a huckster trade going through Martinique,” said Ryan Anselm, Plant protection and quarantine officer with the Ministry of Agriculture, on a radio program yesterday.
After an analysis into the spread of Black Sigatoka, officials found that it is mainly transmitted by man and wind.
Black Sigatoka was first detected in Fiji and it has subsequently moved to the Caribbean. It was detected in Jamaica in 1995, in Trinidad, Grenada and St. Vincent in the early 2000s and this year detected in Martinique. The Black Sigatoka is also in St. Lucia.
The Ministry of Agriculture says it must take preventative steps to prevent Black Sigatoka from reaching Dominica.
the goverment have to do something about that disease that affects the banana plants
Before you are allowed to enter places like Austrailia they ask you point blank if you have been in a field before boarding the plane. I dont know what they do if your answer is yes. Nevertheless they make you walk through a chemicalized mat before clearing Customs. I hope we come up with effective protective measures before it is too late because this is another problem we can do without.
I totally agree. Australia is very protective of their argriculture and goods are destroyed and travellers fined.
From the programmes I have seen it is most people from China and other parts of Asia, who try to bring in plants, cooked food, seeds etc, which carry various diseases and are therefore not allowed.
Dominica should take similar measures.
I totally agree. Other countries like have strict regulations on bringing certain things into the country in baggage and also under footwear. Perhaps Dominica should implement these ways, or similar to protect our agriculture and wildlife. We should not take these things for granted as they can so easily be damaged by travelers not thinking.