Farmers Urged to Be on Alert for Pests

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is urging farmers to be on the lookout for pests following recent heavy rains.

Speaking in a recent interview with JIS News, Senior Plant Health and Food Safety Officer, Francine Webb, said farmers should increase their scouting practices to be able to quickly detect any resurgence in the population.

The use of traps is advised to manage numbers.

“You want to do that early so you are better able now to apply the appropriate intervention methods, whether or not it’s insecticides or other integrated pest management strategy that will help in reducing the level of pests in the field,” she advised.

Noting that unchecked pest populations can pose an added challenge to plant rehabilitation, Ms. Webb said it is critical for plant nutrients to be replenished.

“Heavy rains leech essential nutrients like nitrogen and potassium, so applying a balanced fertiliser or some foliar sprays such as your potassium nitrate will help to mitigate deficiencies and help in reducing stress,” she pointed out.

Farmers are also being advised to collect data and record problems on their farms regarding the appearance of diseases.

“This will help you in your future planning by informing long-term solutions like planting cover crops, improving your soil structure or your soil health in general. You want to be able to have that information, so that you can better utilise it in being more resilient or quickly returning your field to normal once we encounter these weather events,” Ms. Webb said.

For assistance, farmers can contact the nearest RADA Parish Office or call 876-977-1158.