Ministry of Agriculture imports insects to combat Citrus Greening Disease

The effects of Citrus Greening Disease

The Minister of Agriculture through the Plant Protection and Quarantine Unit has sourced 9,000 insects to act as a natural enemy to the Citrus Greening Disease.

These insects, which arrived on the island via FEDEX, will form efforts to combat the disease which is found in several parts of the island.

“The Asian Citrus Psyllid is a pest that vectors a disease called Citrus Greening Disease,” Acting Head of Plant Protection and Quarantine Unit, Nelson Laville, explained on GIS News. “That disease was discovered in Dominica a few years back and once we found out that the disease was vectored, we started off our management programme of managing the vector which would then influence the reduction of the spread of the disease, or the impact of the disease.”

He continued, “So since Hurricane Maria, we noticed that there was an increase in the population of the vector which meant that there was an imbalance caused by the Hurricane which affected the natural enemies, which kept the population of the pest at a low population.”

Retrieving the insects was made possible through a collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture and the University of Florida.

Citrus Greening is one of the most serious citrus plant diseases in the world.

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16 Comments

  1. Matrix Reloaded
    April 27, 2018

    Where ever America is in the equation then I am very much concern and to exaggerate a little even fareful. Hope the ministry of agriculture and plant quarantine know what they are doing and the solution dont become a problem for is in the future. I remmeber what happen to our famous Mountain Chicken “Crapaud” when the American introduce disease to our ecosystem in an effort to “Erradicate the Ganja Plant”.

  2. Preacher
    April 27, 2018

    In the early times mongoose was imported to take care off snakes they did a good job
    But after that they turn on chickens
    Let’s be careful

    • Real truth
      April 27, 2018

      I’m afraid importing insects to combat citrus greening will not work! Just visit the once many citrus Groves in Florida.
      I have studied this disease for many years, the answer/cure is an aggressive 7-9month high nutrition fertilizer program, starting at the root level……. I contacted the world’s leading fruit/citrus producers who have a systematic cure or treatment
      For citrus greening, ….. THEY REFUSED To HELP Us………OUR PRODUCTS have/WILL IMPACT THE BOTTOM LINE of the WORLDS /regions fruit markets. Don’t believe me , study the citrus fruit markets in the Dominican Republic, and observe how they are controlled by the world players….. I pray this info. Is not to heavy to grasp ……Stay away from the USA on this matter! The Wise will understand!

    • Iamanidiot
      April 28, 2018

      Are there still Mongoose in Dominica?

  3. The accursed thing
    April 26, 2018

    Under the control of Skerrit, a once very blessed and fruitful ground cannot produce anything. Our banana industry is destroyed to the point that years before Erika or Maria, Dominica could not ship not one box of bananas. We talking about an island that shipped tons of bananas weekly. Under Skerrit black Segartoker daykalay it. Under Skerrit our citrus industry is destroyed! Under Skerrit we lost our copra industry, mangoes are gone at least for this year. He built airport for night landing but it’s constantly under attack to the point that it is almost not good for daylanding. He built roads and highways but look at them today, less than 5 years later almost all bridges are gone as if an enemy attacked his interest. He built houses and toilets they are gone. What will it take to see the man is not Blessed and whatsoever he doeth is destroyed? Dominica cannot prosper under Skerrit never! His works are evil and works of darkness. Unless we realize that and get rid of the accursed…

  4. The accursed thing
    April 26, 2018

    The truth is, all you can import insects, import fertilizer from Morrocow, import banana plants from, France, demote Drigo and bring in another demoted Reggie but the truth is, unless we deal with the root cause of our problem nothing changes. The root cause is Skerrit is our accursed thing and as long as we have the accursed in camp, make worse as head of state, we will go from curse to curse. In as much as it was in King David’s heart to build God’s house God said David could not build him the house because he had she’d too much blood and therefore his son Solomon built it .

  5. Davido
    April 26, 2018

    Anything to do with the US and importing of ‘insects’ makes me very, VERY concerned!
    America is very good at giving you a problem that they conveniently have the ‘cure’ for.

  6. Rassheed
    April 26, 2018

    Where will these insects sleep at nights? We also need insects to eat Mosquitoes I cannot sleep at nights and cannot afford mosquito nets

  7. Watching
    April 26, 2018

    So after all you tell me i cant bring in fruits like mangoes, bananas, oranges etc because of the insects it might have in them, allu importing insects nows hmmmm what a web we weave when first we practice to deceive. Dominica is now a damn nuisance in world what a laughing stock. Everything white man tell allu just believe it, my country finish boi smfh………. what has this man Skerrit done to my place Father Lord help us…….

    • Rassheed
      April 27, 2018

      If you are flying to Russia or China you’ll have no problem bringing your fruits along.

  8. derp
    April 26, 2018

    Diaphorencyrtus aligarhensis & Tamarixia radiata parasitoid, wasps are probably the two insects why will be releasing to combat the disease…

  9. prophet for a profit
    April 26, 2018

    they are looking for more trouble.

  10. Irma
    April 26, 2018

    8-O 8-O 8-O

    Now I see everything: They FEDEX the insects??

    LMAO!!!

  11. Mishie
    April 26, 2018

    Kudos to the University of Florida for collaborating in this necessary intervention for my country. Go Gators!!!

  12. anonymous2
    April 26, 2018

    This should be interesting. Let’s hope that it works.

  13. LifeandDeath
    April 26, 2018

    Science at work..

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