By Leslie McLean, Gleaner WriterCLAREMONT, St. Ann:
SWEET YAM farmers in south-east St. Ann have been hard hit by the anthracnose fungus and have suffered losses amounting to thousands of dollars.
Farmers from Woodstock, Bensonton, York Castle, Harmony Vale, Dromilly, Harmony Hall, Claremont, Beechamville, Penny, Grierfield and Lincoln have had their crops affected by fungal disease, causing their tubers to dry up.
Richard Morris, a farmer from Harmony Hall, said he lost 2,000 hills of yam while Danovan Davis from Woodstock, said he lost 2,375 hills.
Mr. Davis said he was now worried about his ability to meet his expenses as he depends on earnings from sweet yam to provide for his children's needs at Christmas.
RADA has begun investigating the farmers' complaints, with dirt samples being sent to the Bodles Research Centre in St. Catherine for testing. A team from Bodles has also visited the affected communities to collect further samples.
According to Pedro Worghs, RADA parish manager for St. Ann, the disease could be prevented from emerging in new crops by dipping the 'yam head' in the chemical topsin, but he recommends obtaining fresh planting materials.
He said a public education programme is imminent through field days.
