ALERT:
The current outbreak of the Beet Armyworm (BAW) on onion in the Jamaican parish St Elizabeth Based on the feedback from the team of RADA officers now investigating the issue, the following can be concluded:
• Two (2) fields in Flagaman and two (2) fields in Pedro Cross are affected severely. • Other fields outside of Flagaman have BAW damage ranging from between 15%-20%, where the population of the pest is lower and implementation of correct pest management strategies helped mitigate
• Younger onion fields have less pest and damage due to the smaller leaves of their bulbs
• Older fields (have noticeably higher damage)
• A majority of fields have mature worms inside the leaves and are manifesting the adult stages of the pest.
• This is indicative that the crop was not sprayed at the most vulnerable stage of worms (shortly after egg hatching) and therefore farmers seem not to be timing insecticide applications when they will be most effective.
• Many farmers are using Caratrax, which cannot control worms in the leaves and is not the preferable choice of chemical grouping
• Delay in harvesting of bulbs could also contribute to the pest build up
. • It appears that price of $30.00 /Lb. offered by the market is lower than farmers’ expectations, and some of them are trying to keep the onions in the field rather that reap and sell.
• A plentiful mass of leaves creates a prime breeding ground for the pest. • Even when fields are harvested, pest simply moves (by walking or flying) into the younger fields.
• Farmers tend to buy cheaper insecticides which are less effective for BAW control – this should not be done
RADA IS ON THE CASE:
1. RADA is to send pest alert /pest management text messages through our text messaging system
2. A farmer meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 12 April, 2012 to sensitize about most critical strategies such as field scouting, timing of pesticide applications, correct choice of pesticides, use of traps as monitoring tool – if you are affected stay in close contact with your RADA office and the relevant officers
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