Minister of Industry Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon Karl Samuda on Thursday September 29 officially launched Government’s action to eradicate the Frosty Pod Rot of Cocoa Disease which recently emerged in the island.
First suspected to be present in the parish of Clarendon, Frosty Pod Rot attacks the pod of the cocoa and leads to rotting within 3 months and it is estimated that the disease could result in crop losses of up to 80% of the cocoa tree’s production.
Addressing an emergency media briefing at his St Lucia Avenue offices in New Kingston, the agriculture minister described the disease as a serious and infectious one.
“We are therefore,” Minister Samuda said, “appealing to our cocoa farmers, farmers of other produce and the public at large, to join us in combatting this disease.”
In a swift response to confirmation of the emergence of the disease in the island, Mr Samuda yesterday issued a Ministerial Order - the Frosty Pod Rot of Cocoa (Moniliophthora roreri )Order 2016 - under Section 3 of the Plants (Quarantine Act 1993).
Under the Order, all cases or suspected cases of the Frosty Pod Rot are to be immediately reported to the Plant Quarantine Branch and/or other relevant departments and agencies of the Ministry such as RADA, the Cocoa Industry Board and the Research and Development Station at Bodles in St Catherine.
In addition, the movement of cocoa plants, pods, seedlings and cuttings is immediately restricted; and the Order also allows entry by the Chief Plant Quarantine Officer or any person authorized by her (in writing) upon lands and farms suspected of having the disease and taking the necessary actions to destroy same.
As the Ministry moves to control and eradicate the disease, Minister Samuda said it would cost some $50 million per annum over the next three years to address the matter.
He acknowledged the support of international partner agencies such as the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International (CABI) and underscored the need for swift and decisive action to cauterize and mitigate the threat to the cocoa industry which, though fragile, not only has great renown but also vast potential for growth and expansion.
Where it is suspected that the disease has infected a crop or farm, the Ministry is asking that the Plant Quarantine/Plant Protection Branch of the Ministry and/or the RADA parish office be contacted immediately as follows:
RADA: 888-275-7232
R&D (Bodles): 745-2957
Cocoa Board: 923-6413
Plant Quarantine Protection Unit: 588-5844
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Contact:
Director, Communication & Public Relations
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries
Hope Gardens, Kingston 6
T – 618-7128; E: pr2@micaf.gov.jm; daoconnor@micaf.gov.jm
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