Dr. Marcia Blair-Thomas, CARDI Trinidad Unit Head, has estimated that at least 80 percent of banana production will be lost if the dreaded Fusarium Wilt reaches the Caribbean.
The disease has not been detected in the region but Blair-Thomas described it at the beginning of a five-day regional seminar in Trinidad as a ‘pure killing machine’ and said her desire is that participants, on returning to their home countries, will be able to host prevention seminars and develop and implement a national awareness and contingency plan in the event of an outbreak.
The seminar is being attended by some thirty-one participants from countries across the region, including Dominica.
In his introductory remarks on the seminar objectives and program, Barton Clarke, FAO representative for T&T and Suriname labelled the TR4 of the Fusarium Wilt disease as a ‘significant threat to global food security.’
Participants of the workshop were told to regard themselves as ‘a collective, not individual, representatives.’ As they should ‘engage and utilize capacities within each ministry (in their respective countries) to assist in dealing with the Tropical Race 4 disease.’
Vyjayanthi Lopez, Ph.D. Plant Production and Protection Officer, FAO, identified banana as the fourth most important food crop among the world’s least developed countries. She also provided the participants with a history of commercial banana production in the Region and itemized reasons why banana is popular in the Caribbean. Among these reasons are the ideal climatic conditions, the income provided to rural communities as well as the improved distribution of income in the economy.
Miguel A. Dita, Ph.D., EMBRAPA, Brazil, also a consultant, informed those present about the Fusarium Wilt disease; giving a brief history, the causal agent and races as well as the global distribution and current impact of the Fusarium Wilt.
Participants were called on to give reports on the current epidemiological situation of Fusarium Wilt Race 1 & 2.
Presentations were delivered by participants from Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Jamaica, Dominica as well as a representative of the French overseas territories (Guadeloupe & Martinique).
There was unanimous agreement that increased awareness, collaborative Regional efforts in preventing the entry of the TR4 disease into Latin America and the Caribbean as well as implementation of proper contingency plans can minimize the spread of the TR4 disease.
The seminar includes lectures, field practice and laboratory work.
Fusarium Wilt is caused by a fungus which enters the plant through the roots and colonizes the xylem vessels thereby blocking the flow of water and nutrients and in essence choking the plant and eventually killing it.
how do we prevent this disease from coming in. can we prevent it from coming in
I hear it (Fusarium Wilt) ‘fraid ganja….
Instead of discussing the message, we talking politics.
SMDH
No need to fear that stuff, banana production in the Caribbean is already dead
The first time I read about this a few weeks ago, I thought beware of those marijuana trees/leaves which are illegally transported to Dominica which may carry this disease. They are not sprayed. Has any of the authorities ever thought of this?
Once again, diseases of every nature are rampant and fast approaching some countries. I heard through the Media that Polio and a few others are making its way. Polio is a killer and will also maim.
H5NI (?) and Hepatits B are other deadly ones. We have it all – those diseases in the world. We should do our utmost to eat and drink nutritiously.
The government (Minister of Health) has stated that Pakistani nationals must be inoculated prior to leaving their country and entering Canada. It appears someone who was detected with this illness originated from Pakistan or visited Pakistan. I have not yet read the newspapers but heard it on TV and Radio.
Government of Dominica, Minister of Health and other authorities, I hope you listen to international news and take note.
Punishment for bad leadership
…and whom may I ask is doing the punishing?
It looks like famine is on the way. Look out, for the bible is being fulfil.
Not a word from Matthew Walter and Roosevelt Skerrit on agriculture at the DLP rally in St Joseph, instead Matthew became the DLP’s historian, while the banana industry faces extinction.
Are we aware that more people consume bananas than ever before and West Indian bananas are still considered superior to that of Chiquita and Dole?
What a shame!
we have flour and rice from china and water from morocco, who needs fig.
Our government has give up on agriculture so its not a big deal to them,when pm is no longer in power what will he care about the poor people,he will be take up his residence in NJ.