GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Coconut farmers will be receiving help from the government in the fight against red palm mite infestation.

The Cabinet has approved GUY $49 million (One Guyana dollar =US$0.004 cents) to help rid the industry of the infestation.

This was announced on Wednesday by Minister of State Joseph Harmon who told reporters at the post-Cabinet media briefing that the money will be used to purchase chemicals, equipment, and safety gear and provided to farmers at a subsidised cost.

The red palm mites form colonies on the underside of leaves and feed on the contents of the cells of the leaves. This feeding can cause localised yellowing of the leaves.

This species is indigenous to Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Mauritius, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Réunion, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.

It is considered an invasive species in the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, St Martin, Trinidad and Tobago, the US Virgin Islands, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica and Guyana.