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Farmer Lawrence Lynch
Some onion and scallion farmers in St. Thomas are appealing to the Ministry of Agriculture to introduce more effective pesticides to deal with the beet armyworm infestation that has been wreaking havoc on their crops.
The farmers say the approved list of registered pesticides for onion and scallion does not contain any chemical that can get rid of the beet armyworm.
One of the farmers in Yallahs, Lawrence Lynch, told Radio Jamaica News that the pest is destroying his crops.
He noted that the worms could "eat down your field within two nights" as they rapidly attack the foliage of the crops.
Mr. Lynch said he alone has suffered more than $500,000 in losses due to the beet armyworm infestation, which has destroyed thousands of pounds of his onion.
"They are worms, they are not smarter than us. God made the human being much smarter. We are intellectually capable of overcoming these, but we are really wasting money upon this type of worm," he lamented.
Mr. Lynch called the worms "strategic", noting that they lodge inside the leaf which makes the pesticides less efficient in killing them.
"So, we need something that when we spray, it goes on the inside to kill the worms on the inside," he appealed.
The Ministry of Agriculture has said farmers have been trained on how to safely and effectively use pesticides on the approved list.
Despite the challenges caused by the beet armyworm, the ministry said it is anticipated that the increase in productivity achieved this year will still allow farmers to enjoy good returns on their investment.
The Ministry of Agriculture, in consultation with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and other relevant stakeholders, has calculated a recommended farmgate price for onions at $330 per kilogramme or $150 per pound for this crop season.
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