The Plant Protection and Quarantine Services, in collaboration with the Extension Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, will be hosting a series of plant clinics all across the island.
The clinics are expected to tackle recurring pest issues and assist famers in detecting new pests on the island.
Head of Plant Protection and Quarantine Services, Ryan Anselm, told Dominica News Online on Monday that time and time again the same plant problems keep emerging among farmers on the island.
“Now what we have found over the years is the farmers, backyard owners and vegetable farmers, specifically the green house farmers, would have concerns of the diagnosis of certain pest’s problems. We have found in our lab that farmers are constantly bringing the same plant health issues over and over,” he said.
He stated that the clinics will assist farmers who have these plant health issues and train them on how to identify the pest problems and to manage them effectively.
Anselm informed that another objective of the plant clinic is to detect new pests.
“Our issue is that we want also to detect any new pest on the island,” he noted. “It is important that if a new pest is identified, that it is packaged and transported to prevent the further introduction and spread to other areas.”
He mentioned that some farmers are reluctant to come to the agricultural lab, which is located in the Botanic Gardens in Roseau, and the clinics will allow authorities “to meet all the rural farmers.”
Anselm noted that there is a level of concern about farmers who are located in high risk areas, such as areas where are no official ports of entry.
He noted that plant materials easily come and go through these unofficial ports and this must be addressed so that “we can put management strategies in place.”
The Plant Clinics will be held in the following areas and times:
-27th January from 9-3 pm on Morne Prosper Basketball Court
-28th January from 9-3 pm Montine, Grand Bay Community Center
-28th January from 9-3 pm Giraudel Community Center
-3rd February from 9-3 pm at the Bellevue Chopin Agro Tourism Resource Center
All the clinics are free.
u all wanna see a change in plant distruction and loss? stop buying/ordering and importing fertilizers and plant care products and seeds from MON SANTOS. these GMO (GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM). it is and always has been a plan to destroy full nutrients as we know it, and now the fingers of this pan stretching towards the caribbean somewhere they couldnt reach for some time now they are here. what are we gonna do about it?
Question how many banana farmers do we have in Dominica vs non banana farmers can some expert tell me
thanks
Where are the field officers? they are no longer responsible to visit farmers on the field? they do not want to get their shoes dirty? Or are you really targeting the persons who have back yard gardens? That is the next level in agriculture in Dominica.
Ok mr. asselm why is the agricultural lab is located at the botanic gardens in roseau??? Then you blame and throw them farmers under the bus for not coming there. You will not put the labour office in marigot.
Lord this is what agriculture has come to? Aren’t we going to modernize our Ministry of Agriculture with some specialists and competent staff in order to take agriculture forward?
Black Sigatoka (disease) has ravaged the banana industry and the now they are talking about pests? Is this a means of diverting attention from the real problem?
As I see it, the Ministry of Agriculture needs a strong specialist to head it along with a good network of support staff. It is time we stop putting square pegs in round holes and look at the needs of Dominica!!
In that ministry of agriculture, you all are making yourselves like a joujou (fools) what we need is proper pest control management and do not let the situation escalate into a crisis.
“The clinics are expected to tackle recurring pest issues and assist farmers in detecting new pests on the island.”
That is the most ridiculous, and stupid comment of the century. Farmers in Dominica are plagued with Black Sigatoka, yet this man is talking nonsense about recurring pest issues, and detecting new pest; that is so stupid! I can define pest in many different ways, nevertheless, I will use one simple word “nuisance.” Black Sigatoka is not a nuisance, it is a pandemic disease associated with mortality; very destructive. The disease is dispersed by the wind: what the heck detecting new pest on the island has to do with Black Sigatoka, if that’s where his stupid comments are leading? Could it be that he is deviating from the real problems of the farms, and talking crap to divert their concerns from the real probllem?
Trust me Anselm makes no sense. A new manager of the plant quarantine unit should be appointed.
Well you should know by now that they never address the real problems. These guys are on the govt. payroll train.
Yes, Mr Expert
Always, you know better
Jack of all trades but master of none.