Cocoa farmers educated on effective disease management
Published:Tuesday | October 22, 2024 | 12:06 AMRasbert Turner/Gleaner Writer
President of the Jamaica Cocoa Growers Association Clayton Williams has endorsed the input of resource personnel to impart knowledge and technical competence to farmers for growth of the disease-plagued industry.
“The Government’s thrust is good, in trying to help the industry, but the human element must form a meaningful part as the farmers are the ones who tend the farms,” Williams said.
He was part of a group that attended a workshop at Leckie’s Farm in Williamsfield, St Catherine, last Friday.
“This workshop will enhance their knowledge on the timely removal of disease pods or else they can lose up to 80 per cent of the crop.”
It was noted during the workshop, held in an effort to resuscitate the interest of growers who are fighting against diseases, that Jamaica has the distinction of being ranked in the top 17 countries worldwide for producing fine cocoa.
Presenter Claro Bagio, a consultant from Ecuador, was invited to provide his expertise on hands-on practices that are geared towards maximising productivity of the pods.
Bagio told the farmers that they need to use an integrated pest-management (IPM) approach to be effective against pests, diseases such as phytophthora (Black Pod) - which attacks roots, leaves, stems, fruits, and branches of the cocoa - and climate change.
“You need to prune your trees to 12 feet maximum and remove pods with black spots before the trees get infected. A properly pruned tree allows sunlight to penetrate. It (sunlight) is great medicine to the plants. When you prune the tree, more of the pods will grow on the trunk. This way you can minimise the ill-effect of the Frosty Pod disease,” Bagio said.
He also told the gathering to make proper water channels on the farms as water is a major cause of the spread of Frosty Pod fungus.
During the meeting, it was revealed that the IPM method is physical, mechanical, chemical, biological, and genetic, and should be applied in four stages - observation, application, control, and evaluation.
“The need for nutrition (fertilisation), weed control, and proper draining and removal of frosty pods is crucial to the care of your cocoa production,” Bagio said.
Monilia (Frozen Pod) and phytophthora (Black Pod) are the main culprits affecting production.
“We are challenged by the Frosty Pod disease, therefore, we are very happy to have this intervention of the consultant here today as knowledge is very important to make our investment profitable,” said association board member Michael Leckie, who noted that expert advice is necessary to keep the industry buoyant.
Leckie said the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority has been supplying farmers with disease-resistant seedlings to help with replanting.
“There is a standard of 400 plants per acre, and currently, we have 10 acres under cultivation here. The expert advice given will undoubtedly help to improve the growth, and with properly applied practices, the yield will get better,” Leckie said.
It was agreed that with a lengthy three-year growing-to-production period, farmers are encouraged to plant bananas and coconut to supplement their earnings.
“We now know that with proper fertiliser, pruning, and monitoring, the plants can make a difference,” said farmer Dexter Smith.
The growing of cocoa predominantly takes place in St Catherine, St Mary, Portland, and Clarendon.
The Jamaica Cocoa Growers Association was holding the function in association with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.