The Ministry of Agriculture has outlined several measures and has threatened prosecution if they are not complied with as Dominica intensifies it fight against the deadly Black Sigatoka Disease.
The new measures take effect on Monday, August 6.
“All plantain and bananas for export must be de-handed, dipped and parked in a carton box on the farm or as close to the farm as possible, within the same locality,” agriculture minister Mathew Walter told a press conference on Wednesday. “Trash and leafing material are prohibited to accompany banana and local plantain to local markets.”
Additionally, movement of planting material will be restricted and this can only happen with the permission of the Plant Protection and Quarantine Unit.
The ministry has also declared the month of August as Banana and Plantain Field Sanitation Month under the theme “Observing Good Agricultural Practice and Adhering to Cultural Practices”.
Some of the activities and measures expected to be undertaken by farmers include the ‘de-leafing’ of plantain and banana trees, correct spacing and crop density and destruction of abandoned fields.
The ministry says when farmers comply with these activities, support will be made available, which includes the provision of fungicide, fertilizers and insecticide.
Walter also made it clear that persons who fail to comply voluntarily to any of the measures will be prosecuted under the Agriculture Act.
It did not reach quick. Some people in the Ministry of Agriculture were asleep at the wheel. Hate them but when Eddo and Spags said not enough attention is being paid to agriculture those are some of the things they are talking about. Sad, sad,sad!
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/environment/ministry-of-agriculture-promotes-awareness-of-black-sigatoka-threat/
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/agriculture/black-sigatoka-described-as-serious-threat-to-livelihood/
Stop disseminating untruths!
Yes the information was disseminated but to a non farmer what did it all mean?
Those press releases are dated 2010… so what was happening in 2011?
Every household should have been given those flyers thing they have now, since back at that time before it reach our shores…
I read it on DNO and I like fig so much I did my own research … and know my heart almost stop when I read what the fungus could do to my sweet fig…
Wonder now if its too late for me to stockpile and freeze some of that…
It appears that the problem has been here for sometime now but, as per usual, a blind eye was given to it. It surely did not flare up overnight. Check some of the fields in the South and tell me whether I am incorrect.
Having heard some of the Minister’s comments yesterday on the news, I am left to wonder where the ‘poor’ farmer, who fails to comply can find the $5,000.00 fine. Ah magway sa!!!!
With the wind velocity expected later today, all I envision is the spores being spread even more rapidly and widely too.
Look out poor banana, dead, dead, dead……
He’s going to procecute any one who doesn’t comply. shouldn’t he have a plan in place on how to deal with the situation at hand. Lots of talk and no action.
how this reach in DA so quick?,,,hmmmmm
since I small I seeing them kind of leaves
Dominica has been dealing with the milder yellow sigatoka for many many years now and the effect on the industry hasn’t been as devastating as what the black sigatoka poses….
That why it is important to be able to differentiate between the types …