THE island-wide infestation of crops by the beet armyworm has resulted in a $150-million loss of revenue to farmers. This pest has been most pervasive in the parish of St Elizabeth.

In response to this threat, Hi-Pro Farms Supplies has introduced to the farmers a new high technology BASF insecticide, Alverde, to help eliminate the pest. The product has been successful in the fight against beet armyworm and 28 other species of worms, potato beetle, bugs and ants throughout the Caribbean and South American region.

“Over three years now, I’m having trouble with the beet armyworm,” said Roy Moxam, a farmer from Flagaman, St Elizabeth, and participant in the demonstrations, whose escallion crop has been consistently destroyed by Beet Armyworm. “I used the Alverde on a half-acre [of escallion] and it destroyed the worms. The crop is now just fresh, green and pretty.”

Alverde is classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a “reduced risk candidate” for the environment and is registered with the Pesticides Control Authority of Jamaica.

The insecticide is part of a new generation of chemicals with minimal environmental impact and active ingredients which rapidly break down, said to make it considerably safer for consumers of the finished product than previous insecticides.

“Within a day, Alverde paralyzes the pest and stops it from eating, thereby minimising crop damage,” said Orville Roache, technical sales agronomist at Hi-Pro Farm Suppliers –distributor of the insecticide. He said that “working with chemical manufacturer, BASF, we have registered Alverde to combat this threat to farmers’ livelihood”.

“Alverde can dramatically increase local food production by protecting field produce from pests. While the core business function of BASF is to increase crop yield, Hi-Pro’s mandate is to ensure that our farmers produce profitably, so the collaboration is working” said Conley Salmon, Hi-Pro vice-president of marketing for Feed and Agricultural Supplies. “We’re very happy with this product because we are in a position to efficiently safeguard farmers’ profits by controlling infestation,” he continued.