Jamaican ginger producers from St. Ann’s Grant’s Bailey community convened Wednesday for a critical agricultural workshop targeting rhizome rot, a destructive pathogen threatening the nation’s spice industry. The collaborative training initiative, organized by the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) with support from Newport-Fersan Jamaica and H&L Agro, provided hands-on instruction in disease management techniques at the Grants Bailey Tabernacle Church.
Acting JACRA Director General Wayne Hunter emphasized the program’s significance: “These sessions are vital for protecting Jamaica’s spice sector. Ginger remains an essential economic pillar for rural communities, and rhizome rot continues to endanger island-wide production. Equipping farmers with proper identification, prevention, and treatment knowledge is imperative.”
The workshop addressed rhizome rot (commonly called “soft rot”), a soil-borne disease caused by Fusarium pathogens and nematodes that propagates through contaminated planting materials. Without effective intervention, the disease can devastate entire ginger crops.
Participants received comprehensive guidance on fungicide application protocols, therapeutic interventions, and agricultural best practices. Veteran farmer Glenroy Green, with over two decades of experience, noted: “This training revealed new chemical treatment options. Traditionally, we relied solely on rainfall and natural planting methods. Now we’ll implement these chemical solutions experimentally.”
The urgency stems from dramatic production declines between 2015-2018 when Jamaica’s ginger output plummeted approximately 50% due to rhizome rot proliferation.
H&L Agro Senior Agronomist Howard Williams stressed preventive measures: “Without pretreatment protocols, farmers risk substantial or total crop loss. Our Ridomil and Kocide fungicides provide essential control mechanisms against this disease.”
Newport-Fersan technical experts elaborated on fertilizer optimization strategies, with Technical Sales Consultant Akeem Williams explaining: “Product knowledge ensures yield maximization. Appropriate fertilizer selection and stage-specific application are crucial for production protection.”
The event concluded with 29 farmers receiving agricultural packages containing fertilizers and agro-chemicals to implement their newly acquired knowledge directly in the field.