Leslie McLean, Gleaner WriterCLAREMONT, St. Ann:
SWEET YAM farmers in south-east St. Ann, hard hit by the dreaded anthracnose virus last year which resulted in losses to the tune of millions of dollars, have suffered a similar fate this year.
The anthracnose virus affected farmers in the districts of Harmony Vale, Bensonton, Woodstock, Grierfield, Lincoln, Alderton and Claremont.
After tests were carried out on affected plots, the plant protection section of the Ministry of Agriculture headed by Phillip Chung, senior plant protection officer, recommended the use of the chemicals topsin and mancozeb to treat the yam heads prior to planting.
Farmers from the affected areas told The Gleaner that, despite the treatment with the chemical recommended, their sweet yams have started to "burn up" in the hills and their leaves have turned black.
AFFECTING CROPS
When The Gleaner spoke to Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) parish manager for St. Ann, Pedro Worghs, on Wednesday, he confirmed that the sweet yam crop was again affected and revealed that the virus had extended to the Cave Valley area in southwest St. Ann and to Manchester.
Worghs said some farmers were not spraying their crops and wanted RADA to provide them with chemicals.
He said: "RADA will provide motor blower and do spraying with topsin and mancozeb and the best time for spraying is when it is dry."
The parish manager announced that RADA was planning to bring in disease resistant variety of sweet yam from the Dominican Republic and Mr. Chung was working on that aspect.
