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Agriculture Ministry to Spend $150 Million to Eradicate Cocoa Disease

By: , September 30, 2016

The Key Point:

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries will spend $150 million over the next three years to eradicate the frosty pod rot disease that is affecting the local cocoa industry.
Agriculture Ministry to Spend $150 Million to Eradicate Cocoa Disease
Photo: Mark Bell
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (right), addressing media briefing on September 29, at the Ministry’s offices in New Kingston. He gave an update on the Frosty Pod Rot disease, which is affecting local cocoa. At left is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Reginald Budhan.

The Facts

  • Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the disease, which was first detected in Clarendon, could result in crop losses of between 70 and 80 per cent of production and would have a devastating effect on the industry.

The Full Story

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries will spend $150 million over the next three years to eradicate the frosty pod rot disease that is affecting the local cocoa industry.

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the disease, which was first detected in Clarendon, could result in crop losses of between 70 and 80 per cent of production and would have a devastating effect on the industry.

Mr. Samuda was speaking on September 29 at a press briefing, held at the Ministry in New Kingston.

“In late August, a cocoa farmer in Clarendon observed a fungal disease that looked different from black pod in his field and reported his observation to the Cocoa Industry Board (CIB),” the Minister said.

He explained that the Research and Development Division of the Ministry tentatively identified the fungal disease as Frosty Pod Rot and this was confirmed by the Diagnostic Lab of CAB International (CABI), located in the United Kingdom.

The disease, which is highly contagious, is caused by the fungus Moniliophthora roreri, which invades actively growing cocoa pods damaging them and the seed they produce. This is the first time the disease has been confirmed in the Caribbean.

Mr. Samuda said the situation is very grave, because it threatens one of the finest crops grown locally.

To contain and eradicate the disease, the Ministry and the CIB, with support from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), will put measures in place to assist cocoa farmers across Jamaica, the Minister said.

Mr. Samuda is imploring farmers to be vigilant and to report all cases or suspected cases of the disease immediately to the Plant Quarantine Unit, or other departments of the Ministry.

Persons may contact the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) toll-free number at 888-275-7232; the Research and Development Division at Bodles, St. Catherine, 754-2957; Cocoa Industry Board, 923-6413; and the Plant Quarantine Protection Unit at 588-5844.

Farmers are also being encouraged to use the WhatsApp number 435-5828 to send pictures where it is suspected that the disease has infected a crop or farm.

Last Updated: September 30, 2016

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