JAS confirms re-emergence of beet armyworm in Manchester, St Elizabeth
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) is confirming the re-emergence of the beet armyworm in Manchester and St Elizabeth.
According to JAS in a release today, the organisation dispatched a team to New Forest, Manchester yesterday where it conducted an assessment following reports from farmers.
“We are now in possession of a preliminary report which confirms that there is a re-emergence of the beet army worm in Manchester and St Elizabeth. The JAS had discussion with both Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Ministry of Agriculture this morning about our finding and has requested that immediate action be taken to prevent any outbreak,” JAS president Norman Grant said.
The JAS president suggested that a sample of the worms be sent to the Bodles Research Station for testing.
Grant added that the JAS is especially concerned about the re-emergence of the pests because just months ago escallion farmers suffered losses of close to J$100 million through the invasion of the beet armyworm in the same parishes.
“JAS is committing to work with the farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture and RADA in a public education programme as well as the delivery of additional training to farmers in an effort the prevent the devastation that took place months ago,” the release stated.
