Sean Davis Steelers Jersey UK xveh4ufe

micevan1l6

– more samples to be sent upSamples of a disease attacking banana and plantain farms in the country and which were sent to the US for analysis have proven to be inconclusive.Head of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Musa Disease Management Unit, Rajendra Singh, according to a government statement, says that further samples will now have to be sent up.Samples were sent to CABI Bio-science laboratory in the United States for further analysis and to determine the origin of the disease affecting farms especially at Zeelugt West and Tuschen backlands.Persaud said that samples were collected from the various affected regions and were prepared and sent to CABI for a confirmative diagnosis of the disease.CABI,Nicolas Lodeiro Uruguay Jersey, in its first interim report stated that the leaf symptoms strongly resemble those caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis, a causative agent of the Black Sigatoka disease. However, a number of techniques used to isolate the fungus to identify the disease, has since been inconclusive and work on the samples received is on-going.Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud, during an outreach in Region Three, after receiving the complaints of the farms being affected,Luis Montes Mexico Jersey, had ordered the samples be analysed.According to Musa, disease assessment has since been conducted by its unit which has been established with the Ministry’s research arm, the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) and an aggressive sensitisation programme was undertaken in banana and plantain growing regions.This has since seen field officers sensitising farmers on disease management strategies. A survey of all MUSA growers in Regions One, Two, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Nine and Ten is almost completed.According to Persaud, to date, some 1,370 farmers and 94 small plots inclusive of 4861.095 acres were covered during the survey.Efforts are being intensified to educate farmers of the disease and strategies which included the printing and distribution of brochures, disease identification, disease assessment within the country,Emir Kujovic Sweden Jersey, training of staff and farmers,Juan Carlos Medina Mexico Jersey, establishment of demonstration plots and spray programme to support farmers.There are currently two types of Sigatoka disease—yellow and black.Persaud said that demonstration plots have been established in Regions One, Two, Three, Four,David Pizarro Chile Jersey, Five, Six, Seven and Ten as research conducted by officials of NARI’s disease control unit has shown that crops in those regions are not prone to the disease while Region Eight and Nine are more susceptible.“The results, so far, are looking very positive and the chemicals are effective in managing the disease especially the Black and Yellow sigatoka,Sebastian Holmen Sweden Jersey,” he added.He said that a sanitation exercise is required which entails a comprehensive clearing and cleaning of farmland by cutting all affected leaves and disposing of them in a proper manner since re-infection is likely.To ensure that farmers are better equipped with the necessary knowledge to effect proper agricultural practices and improve productivity,Alvaro Gonzalez Uruguay Jersey, training sessions were conducted in several regions by staff of the MDMU which saw approximately 350 farmers benefiting from training in disease recognition/identification and spread and management of various Musa diseases.In addition, farmers and staff were also trained during a session hosted by Head of Musa and FAO consultant Assim Dilbar. Training was done as follows: Region One (four officers and 78 farmers), Region Two (four officers and 20 farmers),Marcus Rohden Sweden Jersey, Region Three (seven officers and 30 farmers), Region Four (seven officers and three farmers), Region Five (one officer and five farmers), Region Six (two officers and five farmers) and Region Ten (one officer and three farmers).Persaud said that similar exercises would be undertaken in other regions shortly. He also urged that farmers play their part in ensuring that their farms are protected from diseases by constantly cleaning and clearing them.Sigatoka is a leaf disease that is caused by a fungus (Mycosphaerella musicola). The symptoms of the disease appear on the leaves and not on other parts of the plant. The disease is found in almost all banana growing countries in the Caribbean Region.Some of the symptoms of the disease are pale, yellow specks on the upper leaf surface spots appearing on the 4th and 5th leaf of untreated plants and streaks appearing along the margins and apex of the leaf.“These symptoms, if untreated, cause damage to leaves making them non-functional resulting in smaller and lighter fruits, and an increase in the level of rejected fruit and an eventual death of plants. The disease is spread naturally by wind,Raul Jimenez Mexico Jersey, water splash, insects, animals and human practices.