Farms recovering from red palm mite – ministry

Farms are recovering from the red palm mite infestation which wreaked havoc on coconut plants for months, the Ministry of Agriculture says.

“Gradually the leaves of coconut palms are returning to bright green and blossoms are beginning to protrude- promising signs that the red palm mite pest that wreaked havoc over the coconut industry for months is now being defeated,” the Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

“Coconut palms that were treated are showing significant reduction in the red palm mite population. Farmers need to be vigilant and take precautionary measures to ensure their farms continue to be mite free. The pest is easily transmitted by the air from affected areas to areas that are not affected,” it added.

Over the past months, Stabroek News has been reporting on the havoc being wrought by the red palm mite on coconut farms. The coconut is currently one of the country’s key non-traditional crops, with the industry ranking third behind rice and sugar as a priority agricultural crop. Coconuts currently contribute about 1% to the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with exports pegged at US$3 million annually. There are an estimated 24,000 hectares under cultivation, producing an average of 92 million nuts each year.

Coconut is grown widely on the coastal regions, primarily along the Pomeroon River on the Essequibo Coast, West Berbice and on the Corentyne Coast. All of these areas were infested with palm mites.

The ministry recalled that government in December 2015 injected $49M to purchase chemicals and other materials to fight against the pest in all coconut producing Regions. In addition, Extension Officers of the National Agricultural Research & Extension Institute (NAREI) increased their presence on the ground offering technical support and monitoring the situation.

Thus far, over 540 farmers have received chemicals and requisite training involving the treatment of infected plants, the statement said.

Dennis Cox, one of the affected farmers from the Pomeroon who benefited from government’s assistance package has reported that his farm is recovering, the Ministry said. He is looking forward to a good harvest but will continue to be vigilant for the red palm mite, it added. According to Cox, he is aware that the farms in the Pomeroon are at a great risk of being infested by the red palm mite owing to the large number of unattended farms. However, he is of the view that the training farmers were exposed to would enable them to swiftly respond to any future attacks of the pest, the Ministry said.

Meantime, Randolph Garraway is also keeping a watchful eye on his coconut farm, spanning some 15-acres. The effects of the mite on his farm were not devastating since NAREI responded in a timely manner, the ministry said. According to Garraway, had it not been for NAREI’s intervention his farm would have been destroyed by the red palm mite.

“NAREI came (in the) nick of time…I applied the chemicals and for two months now the trees are normal…the plants are getting green…I am thankful for the assistance because I couldn’t afford to purchase the chemicals,” he was quoted as saying.

The ministry recalled that the presence of the pest was first observed in July 2013 on the island of Wakenaam, Region Three. Following the discovery of the mite on the island, NAREI immediately conducted a trial to determine the appropriate means of control, the statement said.

According to the ministry, in October 2013, NAREI assembled a team to treat the coconut palms and quarantined the island to restrict the invasive species. Between October 2013 and December 2014 over 50,000 coconut palms were treated on the island by injecting the chemical into each tree.

Preventative measures were also taken in Region Two. But those efforts did not stop the pest from reaching the Pomeroon and other farming communities on the Essequibo Coast. In fact, even with, advisories informing farmers about the outbreak in Wakenaam not many were prepared for the devastating effects of the pest, the ministry said.