KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries is assuring farmers that it is taking steps to monitor and control the recent outbreak of the beet armyworm disease in the parishes of Manchester and St Elizabeth.

The disease caused by the worms has reportedly affected onion and scallion farmers in the parishes. The ministry, in a statement yesterday, appealed to the affected farmers, farmers of other produce and the public at large, to join in combatting the disease by implementing several mitigating strategies.

According to the ministry the Rural Agricultural Authority (RADA) has visited the affected areas, met with farmers and provided them with information to address the outbreak.

The ministry and RADA are encouraging farmers to employ the following strategies to mitigate the further development of this pest:

Reduce the acreages of scallion during the April to July period and cultivate alternative crops such as hot pepper, thyme, pumpkin and melon during this period.

* Intensify the monitoring of crops at least twice a week or every three days

* Continue to utilize the pheromone traps as a monitoring tool to detect the early arrival of the migrating beet armyworm adults (or bats)

* Monitor for the early detection of the egg sacs when deposited on the tip of leaves

* Newly hatched worms will emerge within three days. This is critical as these are the most vulnerable and susceptible stages where cultural and chemical strategies are to be applied. Handpicking is recommended where practical.

* When spraying, choose the least toxic, bio-rational insecticides, to minimize negative impact on natural enemies (or farmers friends)

* Manage all weeds within and surrounding the fields which may harbour the pest especially grasses around these fields during the rainy period as they may become an additional host for the pest.

* Older worms are hardier; insecticidal treatment is less effective and worms are less exposed to chemicals and natural enemies, since they reside inside the leaves

* To reduce the overnight impact of migrating older worms, dig trenches 1ft deep around the plots; Keep the trench wet and muddy to prevent exit of these worms. Be careful not to fall in. Remove once threat to crop has subsided

* Only apply insecticides approved for use on scallion and onion crops.

* Effectiveness of the treatments may be enhanced in small plots by clipping off the leaf tips prior to application, especially if the older beet armyworms have entered the leaves

* Provide adequate nutrition to the crop

* Ensure that onion and scallion crops are harvested and sold at maturity and not left in the field due to low prices or other marketing issues. Unmanaged or abandoned plants encourage the build-up of beet armyworm populations.