Leslie McLean, Gleaner WriterCLAREMONT, St. Ann
THE RURAL Agricultural Development Authority's (RADA) St. Ann branch will shortly begin a series of field days, as part of efforts to inform farmers on how to treat the anthracnose virus, which has been seriously affecting sweet yam produced in the parish.
Pedro Worghs, RADA's parish manager for St. Ann, told Farmers Weekly on Wednesday that almost 200 acres of sweet yams have been affected.
He said the field days will be conducted in the areas hardest hit such as Claremont, Harmony Hall, Woodstock, York Castle, Quasi Grass, Harmony Vale, Lincoln, Bensonton and Grierfield.
The anthracnose virus causes the yam to become black until it ultimately dries up.
Mr. Worghs said already a plant specialist from the Ministry of Agriculture has met with farmers and visited some of the affected farms.
RADA has reported that as part of the mitigation efforts, the chemical substances topsin and mancozeb will be used to treat yam heads before they are re-planted.
