Moko alert: EC$3.5 million set aside to combat the disease

08.June.07

AGRICULTURE OFFICIALS here are bracing themselves for a long, hard battle to control the Moko disease which is affecting this country’s Banana industry.

The Global Plant Health Clinic, at the Commonwealth Biological Institute informed local authorities of the diagnosis on May 31st.{{more}}

One day later, Cabinet met and authorized an initial EC$3.5 million package for the battle against the dangerous banana predator.

Included in this figure is $490,000 set aside for the initial control programme, EC$1.6 million for a compensation package to affected farmers and EC$1.5 million to finance a comprehensive banana replanting and rehabilitation program.

“Moko disease is a very serious and problematic disease to control and to eradicate,” Minister Daniel said at a press conference last Monday.

He reiterated that while for close to two years concerns were raised about the presence of a disease no announcement could have been made until the diseases’ identity could be verified by an accredited source.

Local experts had however already determined the identity of the disease.

He explained that Moko was spread by moving plants, tools, clothing from infected areas into uninfected areas. The disease is also spread by insects feeding on flowers. He also said that the bacterium that causes Moko can survive in the soil for between six and eighteen months and affects all banana species including plantains.

“You farmers who are affected severely and whose entire fields will have to be treated, the government is sympathetic to your cause,” Minister Daniel said.

He noted that only six percent or 200 acres of this country’s 3300 acres of banana production lands are affected. He said that while the ministry was concerned about the presence of the disease he did not anticipate any major hindrance to banana exportation.

Farmers affected by the disease are being guided to plant crops and trees that are not hosts to Moko in the interim until the 18-month quarantine period is over.

Minister Daniel also noted that the Moko disease is not harmful to humans so it is safe to eat bananas.

A 33-member team has been commissioned to spearhead the national control programme. The treatment strategy would include the injection of individual plants using the American made herbicides Round Up or Touch down Total.

Buffer zones of up to 15 feet from infected plants would also be utilized along with the spraying of weeds in the vicinity of infected plants. There will also be a limitation of movement through infected fields and the strict disinfecting of tools.

Daniel said that with earnings of EC$23 million in 2006, Banana continues to be a major contributor to foreign exchange.

“It is the major economic activity in most of the farming communities… hence the need for all of us as responsible citizens to work together to control this Moko disease,” Daniel said.

Chief Agriculture officer Reuben Robertson said that while the initial response plan, scheduled to last between six and eight weeks has begun, the long term response to the situation needs “a little more distillation.”

Among the symptoms of the Moko disease are the withering of the navel, the premature ripening of some fingers on the bunch and the blackening of the fruit pulp along with yellowish brown marks on the cut surface of the bunch stalk.

Persons who notice any of these symptoms are being asked to contact the Ministry of Agriculture.(KJ)