Grenada's Ministry of Agriculture has issued a warning regarding Tropical Race 4 (TR4), a lethal fungal disease threatening the banana industry. Despite TR4 not yet reaching Grenada, the country is proactively implementing measures to prevent its arrival. This disease, responsible for significant losses in banana production across Latin America, South America, and Asia, poses a serious threat to Grenada's agricultural sector.
Francis Noel, Acting Pest Management Officer, highlighted the severity of the situation by recalling the impact of Panama disease on the Gros Michel banana variety. He advised farmers to monitor their crops for symptoms such as wilting and blackening leaves, which could indicate the presence of TR4. Noel emphasized the importance of reporting any suspicions to the pest management unit or an extension officer rather than attempting to deal with the problem independently.
Source: Loop News