Damion Mitchell
, Farmers Weekly Co-ordinatorTHE ANNUAL Montpelier Agricultural Show slated for Easter Monday, April 12, may be cancelled as a precautionary measure against the spread of the deadly Moko disease which has been detected on five banana farms in St. James.
The disease, which affects mainly bananas, plantains and other plants such as ornamental crops, tomato and weeds, has the potential to destroy Jamaica's $2 billion banana industry.
"It is a serious disease, we will have to examine whether we will have to put it (the show) off," Bobby Pottinger the immediate past president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society organisers of the event told Farmers Weekly in an interview on Tuesday.
He was speaking shortly after a press conference at the Ministry of Agriculture's Hope Road offices in St. Andrew to outline the initiatives to be undertaken by a special team of technical agricultural personnel to contain the disease.
AFFECTED AREAS
Among the anti-Moko disease initiatives will be the enactment of a Moko Disease Order under the plant Quarantine Act which will stipulate, among other things, that all movement of soil, plants and suckers of bananas or other plants from any affected area will be prohibited.
Montpelier heads the list of communities where the disease has been detected with others being Georges Valley, Silver Grove, Vaughnsfield and Phoenix Road.
Some 20-acres of affected bananas in St. James were to be destroyed by the Ministry of Agriculture this week to help reduce the possible the spread of the disease.
In the meantime, farmers have been advised to report to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), or the Plant Quarantine/Produce Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, all suspected cases of the Moko disease.
Symptoms include the unusual yellowing of the leaves of banana trees before they begin to wilt and then finally die along with the rest of the plant.
The annual Montpelier Agricultural Show launched on Thursday March 1, under the theme: 'We are what we eat, eat Jamaican' was being tipped to be the largest ever, with more than 10,000 patrons expected to attend. Some 85 exhibitors were also expected to display agricultural and horticultural products in addition to livestock, food and beverages.
The Moko disease in St. James was first reported by RADA in the latter part of 2003. Samples were collected from farms of approximately 10 acres and submitted to the Banana Board Research Department for analysis. The samples which were also sent to the United Kingdom for confirmation, returned positive last week Tuesday.
