NAREI helping Wakenaam farmers to better manage pests and diseases
– reducing infestation whilst increasing production
Wakenaam is being positioned to be a major contributor to food production in Guyana. Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha is delivering on his promise of improving the island’s economic backbone- the agriculture sector.
Following the Minister’s outreach to Wakenaam, where farmers raised issues affecting other crops, a number of interventions were made by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) to alleviate their concerns.
NAREI is working with farmers of Wakenaam, Region Three to increase food production by reducing losses caused by pests and diseases. The intention is to improve the livelihood of farmers whilst ensuring food is available at the marketplace.
Using an Integrated Pest Management approach, NAREI is assisting farmers to effectively manage Black Sigatoka Disease (BSD) and the infestation of banana scarring beetle that are affecting banana and plantain crops. Already, farmers are beginning to see improvements thanks to technologies being used to secure their farms.
Banana scarring beetle
NAREI’s Research Scientist, Mr. Howard London, who is part of a team comprising, Researchers and Extension Officers assisting farmers to manage this pest on the island, relayed that damages caused by the banana scarring beetle were first observed on a farm in Bush Lot. To date, the known affected area is approximately 12.14 hectares cultivated by six farmers.
However, interaction with farmers during a recent training revealed that more farms are affected. The training was done while complementing a bunch cover trail being carried out on the island.
Sixty-five banana and plantain farmers benefitted from the session. They are now knowledgeable about how to effectively manage the insect pest. They were informed about monitoring, good cultural practices, including clean cultivation, trash removal to break nesting areas of the pest, good drainage and de-flowering of the young bunches.
Farmers expressed interest in the recommendation of bunch cover (treated Polyethylene bags) for the sleeving of bunches. They also expressed an interest in purchasing the bags to protect their crops. Also, due to the training farmers are now keener on implementing the recommended management practices like field sanitation, ensuring proper drainage among others.
Farmer, Mr. Tom Singh said, “I want to thank the Ministry of Agriculture, NAREI and Dr. Homenauth (CEO of NAREI) for this initiative of bagging of plantain and chemicals outreach to Wakenaam. It is very good. Farmers can smile again. About 15 or 20 years ago we used to get this bag, and now we get this bag again. This bag gives us a better plantain without marks that are good for export quality. Also, the plantain size is bigger and come in a week early.”
“Unaffected farmers became aware of the serious nature of the pest, and the threat of the total destruction of all Musa spp. crops on the Island, and the types of intervention that are needed to urgently restrict its transmission,” NAREI’s Training Manager, Mr. Warren Barlow said.
Black Sigatoka Disease (BSD)
For years, NAREI has been working with farmers on the island to manage the Black Sigatoka Disease. However, many farmers have been encountering challenges with the disease. As such, NAREI partnered with a farmer to establish a demonstration plot.
According to NAREI’s Research Assistant, Mr. Satyanand Ramdowar, proper field sanitation practice is critical in the management of the BSD. “If you look around the demonstration plot you can see it properly managed. The dried leaves have been removed and that is important in stopping the disease from spreading. We have given the farmer some chemicals to help with the disease,” Mr. Ramdowar said.
