ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA – Grenada has evaluated its safeguarding systems through analysis of the National Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for dealing with the Tomato leaf Miner or Tuta Absoluta by engaging key stakeholders during a tabletop simulation exercise on Wednesday 13th July 2022
Extension and Plant Quarantine Officers, representatives of the Seaport and Airport authorities, farmers, input suppliers, marketers, the media, and police officers participated in the session by evaluating the country’s current ERP response plans. They identified gaps and possible actions for response to an incursion by Tomato leafminer, should the pest be identified here.
“This is a plant quarantine pest; the main host is tomatoes. It damages the leaves, fruits, and stems, but related plants of the Solanaceae can also be affected,” explained Pest Management Officer, Thaddeus Peters.
This exercise, organized by the Pest Management Unit (PMU), falls under the Greater Caribbean Safeguarding Initiative (GCSI) project, implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
National Specialist for that organization, Derek Charles, spoke of the significant role that the exercise plays in helping protect agricultural outputs and commodities, ensuring that crops can thrive in environments that are free from pests and diseases.
“Awareness at this point is critical; we need to be aware of certain species like the Leaf Miner that cause major damage to the sector and keep them away from our shores. The exercise will help us to prepare and activate a full-scale response should pests like this, which can cause major damage to the agricultural sector, reach our shores.”
Grenada’s simulation exercise follows similar exercises in Dominica, St. Lucia, and other Caribbean Countries that have not recorded instances of the pest. Officials here, however, will be increasing awareness and education on the Tuta Absoluta.
The pest has been identified in Haiti; one Caribbean Country added to the list of countries that the Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) designated to be infested by tomato leaf miner and has market access for tomato fruit (into the United States.)
Due to its high reproductive rate, all life stages can be found in the field once introduced and established. The Larvae of insects that feed aggressively can cause highly damaging effects on tomatoes and other vegetables and potentially threaten national food security.
This project comes on the heels of two other regional initiatives: the “Don’t Pack a Pest,” A signage project designed to raise public awareness regarding the risks associated with passengers potentially introducing pests and disease by carrying agricultural and food items when travelling. The second initiative is, Preventing Costs of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Barbados and countries of the OECS with funding from the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) and implemented by IICA.
Now that stakeholders have increased awareness of the pest and its impact, improved technical and policy recommendations contributing to a safer agricultural sector are forthcoming, particularly relating to the introduction, establishment, and spread of the Tomato Leaf Miner or Tuta Absoluta.
-30-
