Local farmers to benefit from new products

Bayer Crop Science and Carib-Agro Distributors Ltd have introduced three new environmentally friendly fungicides for Jamaican farmers.

The products, Antracol, Trivia and Serenade biofungicide, were launched recently at an event held at Junction Guest House in St Elizabeth.

The Jamaica agricultural sector has been faced with many challenges over the past few years attributed mainly to climate change, which has resulted in more hurricanes and extended droughts.

These changes have contributed to an increase in the number of pests and diseases affecting crop production.

J.C. Hutchinson, minister without portfolio in the agriculture ministry, said records show St Elizabeth experienced losses of over $140 million in onion and scallion fields as a result of damages caused by the beet armyworm between 2009 and 2012.

The sector has further been plagued by coffee leaf rust; the taro leaf hopper that has affected dasheen, and more recently the frosty rod, which negatively impacted cocoa production.

The products have been around for over 20 years but have recently been introduced to the Jamaican market.