In Antigua and Barbuda, a new initiative titled "Next Generation Sweet Potato Production in the Caribbean" has been introduced to address the challenges faced by sweet potato farmers, including the threat posed by the sweet potato weevil. This regional project aims to increase sustainable production and resilience among local farmers. A key component of this initiative is the Sweet Potato Weevil Trapping Exercise, which seeks to mitigate the impact of the sweet potato weevil on crop yields.
Craig Thomas, the country coordinator for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), emphasized the importance of the trapping exercise as a biocontrol strategy. By deploying over 30 traps across 12 farms, the project intends to capture mainly male weevils, thus reducing the population and damage caused by this pest. The traps, placed at strategic points within sweet potato fields, utilize pheromones to attract the weevils.
The exercise, conducted during the sweet potato's planting season, has been well received by farmers. It is part of a broader effort to provide farmers with access to improved sweet potato varieties and knowledge for sustainable production. The initiative also explores the potential of biocontrol agents, such as Beauveria bassiana strains, to develop bio-pesticides suitable for local use. This effort is supported by the Centre for Agriculture for Biosciences International (CABI) in the UK.
Thomas highlighted the urgency of finding effective control measures against the sweet potato weevil, which not only damages the crop in the field but also during storage, leading to significant yield losses. The project, funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, represents a collaborative effort to safeguard this vital crop and support regional food security.
Source: Observer