The Minister

of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw, is encouraging

farmers to cooperate with the Frosty Pod Rot (FPR) Management Programme agents.

Frosty pod

rot is an airborne disease that can easily spread from one farm to another by

the wind. The disease affects cocoa, and it is caused by a fungus

(Moniliophthora roreri).

Speaking

earlier this month, Shaw noted that some farmers had been resisting efforts of

the work of the Ministry.

“Plant

Quarantine members have been threatened and, in some cases, barred from

entering farmers’ holdings, due to miscommunication and the misconception that

the team was on a mission to eradicate and destroy their cocoa orchards,” he

explained.

The Minister

said the cooperation of farmers is important to reduce the effect that the

spread of the disease can have on the cocoa industry.

“We need the

cooperation of the farmers to stem the spread of the disease. Therefore, we are

asking our farmers to bear with us and allow our officers entry to their farms

to carry out the necessary intervention measures,” he said.

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Jamaica’s Agriculture Minister expects an increase in cocoa yield[/naviga:li][/naviga:ul]

According to

the Minister, there are about 1,300 active cocoa farmers and all stakeholders

need to work together to secure the full resuscitation of Jamaica’s valuable

cocoa industry.

Under the

Frosty Pod Rot Management Programme, approximately 225 hectares of cocoa have

been pruned, benefitting 187 farmers, principally in St. Mary.