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NAREI continues control measures for Black Sigatoka Disease
When life knocks you down, in this case the Black Sigatoka Disease (BSD) devastating acres of plantain crops, you get right back up and cultivate again.
This is exactly what Ayodele Sampson, a plantain farmer has done. With good farm hygiene practices, Sampson has been able to control the disease.
The Black Sigatoka Disease is caused by the fungus Mycosphaerellafijiensis Morelet. The first symptoms are tiny, chlorotic spots that appear on the bottom surface of the third or fourth open leaf. The spots grow into thin brown streaks running parallel and limited by leaf veins. Eventually, when the severity of the disease is high, large areas of the leaf may become blackened and water-soaked.
Ayodele Sampson among her crops
Several years ago, the disease dealt Sampson, a single parent, a huge financial blow. All six acres of her plantain crops were destroyed and the prospect seemed bleak. However, with intervention by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and PROPEL, herself and many other farmers were sensitized about control measures for the BSD.
Today, plantain is the main crop being cultivated on her farm, situated on Truli Island, Region Three. Of the 29 acres of ancestral lands owned by Sampson, only two and half acres of lands are being utilised. She plans to increase plantain production by another two acres or so shortly, owing to the favourable price she receives.
“Right now I have about 1,750 suckers and each bunch weighs about 50 pounds so I am having a good harvest…I usually load my produce and head back for Wakenaam…There I would sell to a husker who pays me $50 per pound and that is good…I get that price because of the quality of my plantains…they don’t ripe fast because I don’t use a lot of chemicals so my plantains last long,” Sampson said smiling.
Sampson related that her farm is still affected by the BSD but that is owing to negligence. She has asked NAREI to revisit her farm to sensitize her workers in this regard. This has received a positive response from the Institute since controlling the initiative is an ongoing programme.
According to Nehal Patterson, NAREI’s Regional Crop Extension Officer (ag), plantain is an important crop in the Region. As such, the Institute has partnered with two farmers in Free and Easy and in Leguan, to host demonstration plots examining the impact of BSD on the Creole and Pita varieties of plantain.
“The demonstration plots have shown that the Pita variety is more resilient to the BDS, but it is not a preference of consumers…It important that there is an alternative variety in the event there is another outbreak…However, more farmers are now engaging in good farming practices to safeguard their crops,” he said.
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