Government on the offensive against the Black Sigatoka disease

Thursday, February 11, 2010 – Agriculture Minister Honourable Ezekiel Joseph says, government will continue to support farmers and do all in its power to eradicate the Black Sigatoka disease. The disease has been identified in Forestierre and Comba in the Babonneau district.

Minister Joseph says, a Black Sigatoka Task Force has been appointed to assess and monitor the fungus. The task force is collaborating with various international organisations on containment and eradication programmes.

“We have been working with a number of organisations from Martinique and Guadeloupe along with local organisations like the Banana Production and Management Unit (BPMU). We have been going out in the field to conduct an in-depth analysis to determine whether the fungus is only located in Forestierre and Comba; we are hoping that the disease is only concentrated in those two areas where we have located it for now,” the minister said.

The Black Sigatoka is a leaf spot ailment which affects banana plants and plantain.

Minister Joseph says if the disease becomes an island wide problem, it could pose serious financial implications for the agriculture sector.

He says government will continue to be proactive in its efforts to eradicate the plant disease.

“We have engaged banana companies from Martinique and Guadeloupe that have agreed to support our various programmes because if we are not able to control this disease it will have an effect on banana production.”

Government has allocated five hundred and forty three thousand dollars towards the containment and eradication efforts of the disease.

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