Following Hurricane Beryl's heavy rainfall, the Banana Board has alerted banana and plantain farmers in Jamaica about the potential rise in pest populations. The waterlogging of roots post-flooding creates conducive conditions for pests.
The Board's General Manager, Janet Conie, emphasized the importance of proper field drainage to prevent bacterial pest infestations. Conie advised, "If water sits in the root zones for three days, your plant is going to die… because bacterial pests start eating the roots and start going up the corm."
She also recommended the prompt removal of damaged plants and debris to avoid attracting the borer weevil, a pest detrimental to the corm. To combat the borer weevil and nematodes, treatments with insecticides like Actara and various nematicides are advised. These measures are crucial for the recovery of roots and the effectiveness of subsequent fertilization.
Source: jis.gov.jm