 Good day again, St. Lucia, and welcome to the program, Agriculture Under the Move. I am Philip Sidney, a host. The day with me is Mr. Kretas Alexander, who is not new to the studio, and he is the plant protection officer in the research division in the Ministry of Agriculture. Welcome to the program, sir. Good afternoon, and thanks for having me, Mr. Sidney. Very good, very good. You always have to give some pertinent information to the public. I hope so. Today we are discussing the TR4, the Tropical Risk 4, which is a banana fusarium wilt disease. Tell us about that disease. TR4 is a soil-borne fungus, and it is the causative agent for a disease in bananas called fusarium wilt. Now TR4, which means the scientific name for the organism is fusarium oxyspora, but TR4 signifies that it is a tropical risk, that it is the fourth risk of this disease. You have risk one, which affected the grumichelle, and presently we have the risk two, which is affecting macamboa. Risk three does not affect musas species, but risk four. Now this disease is not new. The disease was first discovered in the 18th century, but it came to prominence in the 1950s and 60s when it decimated the banana industry at the time. And at that time the predominant variety was the grumichelle variety, and it was very, very susceptible to the disease. So it went under, but luckily on a global scale the research and the found a variety called cavendish. Now the cavendish is more resistant to the disease. Now what has happened since then? Since the 1990s they've realized a new race, which is the race four. And this race was very restricted to Southeast Asia. Now from Southeast Asia it spread to Africa, and then in Latin America and the Caribbean region. In Colombia three years ago, and Peru it was confirmed in Peru, and presently Peru is very close to Ecuador, one of the largest banana producers on the European market. So that whole Latin American Caribbean region is threatened by this disease. Now we have the tropical race as well as the subtropical race. Now for the subtropical race, you need something to predispose the plant for the disease to affect the plant. But for the tropical race, there is no trigger to really cause any infection so that the plant get infected. So the disease itself, the fungus, can affect the plant without any predisposing factor. Whether it's healthy or not? Whether it's healthy or not. So it's a major threat to the banana industry in the Caribbean and the world. As you know, banana is a very important crop on a global scale. Even in St. Lucia, banana and plantain deserve two very important food crops for food security. So it is very important now that we create outreach for this particular disease, which is on our horizon. So how close is it to St. Lucia? Well, as I said, it was confirmed in Colombia, Peru as well in South America. And as we know, you have people moving between Colombia, Trinidad and Trinidad to St. Lucia and so on. So it is very close to us. How long ago? Two years ago it was discovered in Colombia. As I said, it moved from the 1990s to Africa and then in the Caribbean. We never thought that this disease would arrive in the Latin America and the Caribbean region soon. What form of transportation to get it from one island to the next? Okay, long-distance spread. It is a soil-borne organism. So the movement of soil is very important. Whether through infected tools. Sometimes you have people working in different countries and so on. If you come and it doesn't disinfect your clothing and stuff. The tourism industry is very important for us. But as we know, the movement of people from the Latin America, the Caribbean region through the tourism industry. This is a major pathway that we are thinking of. In terms of equipment, we see a lot of equipment. For example, you have tractors, you have a lot of used vehicles coming from around the world. So we have to be aware of these things. Whether those vehicles that we bring in, whether they came from a country that was infected with TR4. And if we bring it in probably with mud on the wheels and so on. And when it reaches the port, it does not get disinfected. You can carry the organism to the banana fields and so on. So long-distance spread is the movement of soil. But in terms of short distances from field to field in a country, you can also have the movement of sports. Because in St. Lucia, we have fields that are very close to each other. And the fungus tends to multiply by the production of spores as well. So movement of soil and sporelation. These are the two major pathways that we are looking at. I'm hearing you, but I'm not hearing anything when it comes to the prevention of it coming into St. Lucia. What it is in place to ensure that you said it's going to move via the tourism and the tourists coming in with their shoes, bringing in mud. What has been done at the port to prevent that spread coming into St. Lucia? Okay. In terms of spread, strengthening quarantine is very important. So presently, we're looking at food buffs at the major ports of entry, where you will have your disinfectant out on the ports. When persons come in, they may not even be aware that you have those food buffs in the facilities. So when they walk through the area, the shoes are being disinfected right away. So we will add some of the biosecurity measures that I said. Strengthen quarantine, food buffs, creating outreach, because it's very important that we educate people on this thing. In terms of don't pack a pest, if you've been to an area where, which is infected with TR4, it's highly recommended that you disinfect your shoes and so on. That is what we are looking at presently. Also, we are working on what is called an emergency action plan. If in case where we are able to detect the disease in St. Lucia, you must have an action plan. Because you need to know whether the spread, whether it has spread to other areas. Because when a disease is, you identify a disease in a particular area, it means that the disease, it has been there for two, three years without identification. So it means now for early detection, surveillance, we need to step up with surveillance because with surveillance, if you identify early, you'll be able to eradicate. But if you don't do surveillance, it means that the disease may spread and you unknowingly will not have any information on the particular disease. What are the physical symptoms to look for when a plant is affected? The signs and symptoms can be basically divided into the green leaf syndrome and the yellow leaf syndrome. For the yellow leaf syndrome, you'll find especially the older leaves around the border, the border will turn yellow. Now, it will progress from the older leaves to the younger leaves. Now you have the leaves will then collapse along the petiol of the plant and they will drop from a skirt around the plant. So also for the green leaf syndrome, the leaves will remain green but it's going to collapse around the plant as well. You may have new leaves developing, but it will be pale and it will show signs of chlorosis. Also, you may have a splitting of the pseudo stem. The pseudo stem will just split and also if you cut the pseudo stem, you will see all the xylem and the fluem vessels affected. The xylem will carry the water to the plant and the fluem is going to carry food to the plant. So if the xylem and the fluem is affected, it means the plant will be starved for nutrients. So obviously the plant is going to wilt and the plant is going to die. So soil borne, but then you mentioned about spores, it also carries spores and which can be winddrift, right? No, but in soil, it can move through the soil because since it's a soil borne organism, all the fungus have to reproduce and the major form of the sexual, it produces sexually through sexual reproduction, which is the production of spores. So when the spores are formed, obviously the forms are going to germinate in the new fungus. So it's from the soil point of view, but not from the leaves? From plant to plant, no, from plant to plant in the soil. It's not like the Baxigotoka, no, it's from spores. So it is soil borne. Baxigotoka is the soil. So in terms of sensitizing the public, apart from programs like that that we're having today, what other methods of sensitization do you have for farmers and the public in general? Well, we're looking at farmers' meetings, secular consultation, we're looking at billboards, flyers, brochures, these are some of the things that we're looking at to really sensitize the public about Baxigotoka disease. Baxigotoka is a TR-4. But the point is, I mean, it's not now we're talking about TR-4, I'm not heard anything more, because I remember a few years ago, maybe about almost five years ago, that with the BPIP, I mean, we did the program, we were hoping to have had billboards around, we went around, and to date, I have not seen not one billboard set up. So my point, I'm not pretty on the spot, but I'm saying... You can't put that. Because presently, you know, we're working with a tight budget. Presently, we have all the posters ready and so on. But you know, the financial situation, it's a little dire. So we're looking at, very soon, we're looking at those billboards that they're going to be erected in fit areas where people congregate, where they can read and get the information about TR-4. Yes, we've been talking about TR-4 for a long time, but we have to re-understand now. It's getting closer to us. So definitely, we need to do something about this. Yeah, but in terms of priority, if you're looking at sensitization and preventative methods, I'm thinking here, at the ports, I'm hoping... I know you all, we did what they called Don't Pack a Pest. But I'm still thinking, you know, of the food bath you mentioned, I've not seen one at the ports. Well, as I said, yeah, we have been talking a lot, but it's time for action. Because as I said, it's getting closer to us and we need to do something immediately about all this. So in terms of, okay, are you awake? I heard you mentioned about financing, but the budget is probably going through. We are the end of the financial year. So you're hoping maybe in the new financial year, some sort of funding will be put in place for that? Yes, most definitely. And even at the activity that you will be having in April for the Banana Festival, we'll probably be a good start for us to have the posters and so on available to the public so that they can go through the information that we have compiled about here. Beautiful. As you mentioned about the Banana Expo, we will take a break and we will come back to talk about that. You are watching agriculture in the move, do not go away. Banana farmers, remember me? I destroyed the Grumichel Banana variety some years ago. Now, my cousin, Tropical Race 4 or TR4, a fusarium-willed banana disease is on the horizon in a more aggressive form and can wipe out the banana industry in a flash. Be vigilant, don't bring any banana plants or plant tissue into the island. Report any unusual symptoms on your banana plots to the Department of Agriculture at telephone 468-5600 or the extension officer in your area. Remember, protect our vital banana industry. Welcome back to the programme, Agriculture on the Move. And with me, of course, is Mr. Cletus Alexander, who is the Plant Protection Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture. And we're talking about the TR4, the Tropical Race 4 soil-borne virus that's affecting the banana industry. Happy to say thus far, it is not in St. Lucia, so we're talking about prevention. Cletus, what's the impact of that disease on the banana industry? It can be dire. You can have the total collapse of the banana industry because once a plant is affected with TR4, it means that this is quite virulent and it's going to spread from plant to plant very quickly. Also, the cost of production. It means the biosecurity measures that you will have to put in place now is going to be a cost to the farmer. You can also, in terms of some of the countries that have been affected by TR4, for example, Taiwan, when it got affected by this particular disease, banana production went down in the excess of 90% of the production. And a number of countries now, because of TR4, they had to stop the banana industry because there was no production for shipping and so on. I can say the impact can be severe on us. And we know we depend a lot on banana and plantain. We need to stress about plantain as well because it's a major food security crop for us and also in terms of revenue for the country. It's very important that we try to prevent entry of this particular. We cannot prevent or delay the entry of this disease for a number of years. But are you saying if it do hit St. Lucia, are you saying the banana industry is finished? Yes, there is a great chance. I mean, sometimes we should be a little optimistic sometimes. I'll not say it will be the end, but it can be the end because the kind of measures that will be needed to prevent the spread, the control, the treatment. And the sad thing about these diseases is that there are no known chemicals to control this particular disease. Also, you have a number of research being conducted in terms of control. Now, you also have a number of biological pesticides that persons have tried against this particular disease. The result of some of those trials, it's promising. Also, you have the... A lot of research has been done on the new variety called GCTCV19 in a number of African countries that were affected by this particular disease. So it's the research, you have a lot of research, but again, in terms of tolerance, you can build tolerance for a certain period of time and then the plant may lose the tolerance a couple of years down the road. So it is, as I said, very important that we keep this disease out. Are there varieties being looked at to multiply for resistance to that disease? Well, as I said, there are very few varieties that will be able to tolerate this particular disease. But as I said, it's at the research stage presently, with a number of international organizations. I know for sure that Taiwan is this particular variety that I talk about, the GCTCV19. It's what it is. They had some research on it. So obviously, in terms of accessing the variety, that will be the most important thing for us. But in terms of multiplication, it's very easy to take it to a lab and teach a culture. But the first thing is to get access to this particular variety so that they can prepare in the event that this disease comes to Central Asia. Maybe that particular variety may not be palatable for the banana industry too, even if it's resistant to the disease. Well, a number of the countries that have really done the research, it is palatable. Sometimes you build the palatability by having people to consume and so on. Over and over and over again. They get used to it. If you have no choice, you will consume. When they are no bananas, you will be going to consume. True, true. What is the situation with, if it do hit the country and there is a drastic need to take certain measures to ensure that it does not move from one field to the next? What can the... I mean, it may be expensive, but so it means the government will get involved in terms of coming up with such financing to ensure and ensuring that it does not transfer from one field to the next? Yeah, okay. In terms of the spread, as I said, surveillance is very, very important. Early detection. Now, in terms of spread, this particular disease, the movement of plant-in-material, what you have now is that a farmer is your friend, he's cultivating in Miku, he cultivates in Mabia Valley or whatever. You want some plants, you will call your friend and tell your friend, I need a thousand plants, so you go to Miku and collect the plant-in-material and transport to the Mabia Valley. These are some of the pathways that we look at. So definitely, in terms of the use of plant-in-material, that should be controlled. Now, we have a situation where sometimes we use a lot of physical culture, plant-in-material and so on. If you decide to use physical culture, plant-in-material, you have to make sure that the plant-in-material is from a safe source. The country where it was multiplied, you have to make sure that there was no TR4. These are some of the measures that you can take. Now, some of the big countries, like Latin American countries, Colombia, presently it's affected by the disease, you have what is called food buffs. Before you enter on somebody's farm, you must disinfect your shoes before you go. Your workers. But to me, that will not be practicable in St. Lucia because all the farms, you go everywhere, you walk around the place, you walk on the people's fields and so on. So definitely if some of the measures that can work is in terms of fencing, once that disease hit you, to minimize the spread, you may have to fence your holdings so that any deacon hurry cannot just walk into your field at any time if necessary. Are you saying that or do you know for a fact that this disease is not in St. Lucia? Presently it is not in St. Lucia. How do you know that? If it was in St. Lucia, based on how virulent that disease is, presently you would have seen some of the symptoms, farmers would be calling and so on, would have seen the impact in terms of the loss in production and so on. What I can tell you for sure is that you have race one which decimated the group, the group shelf, right? And you have race two, which is causing a lot of problems with the Macambo. When you walk around the place, you can see the race two in the Macambo. But for sure, I can see for now it has not been confirmed, we don't have the TR-4 and let's hope it stays so far very well there. There are other Moussa species that may, I'm not sure if it's attacking those species, the ornamental species like the balise. If it do attack, can they be host to that disease and can assist in the transferring of the disease to the banana plant? Well, the thing is this, when you had the race one, which decimated the Grumichelle variety, it was only on Grumichelle. The race two is basically is affecting only the Macambo. Now race four is affecting everything. Macambo, plantain, any species in the Moussa family is affected by the... Is that a mutation? Well, it's not basically a mutation. A mutation is basically changing the genetic constitution or something. It's not really a mutation. It's just a new race. Just like, yeah, which developed. Because for years, the Fiserian Octisporum, the varieties that we had, it was tolerant to those races. But with TR-4, as I said, it's very, very, it's a virulent parasite which affects the plant. And as I said, no control measure. Definitely we in for a fight. What are the threats to the banana industry? Well, as I said, the major threat is food security. Just imagine St. Lucia now. In the future, if this disease is affecting the banana fields and so on, you may have to import bananas. You may move from an exporter to an exporter. But there are other diseases that are serious threats to the banana industry. Well, for sure. Because in terms of the major diseases affecting banana production, the three most virulent diseases, basically, you have the TR-4, we'll have it as number one. You have the Blaxica Tuca, which we have in St. Lucia, presently. And we have the Moku, which is Sunil, Sunil and Asiarum. You have it in St. Vincent and Grenada. They've had it for a very long time. And presently, it has not surfaced in St. Lucia. But these are the three major diseases that we are concerned about in terms of banana production. Oh, but that hit us, well... I mean, compounding what we have in the Blaxica Tuca. In terms of plant pathology, it has been described as one of the most devastating diseases ever known to plant pathology, which is TR-4. And if you have to group it in terms of the top 10, it will be right up there. Wow, wow, wow. So we are definitely, we need to keep this thing out. So what are you telling the farmers in St. Lucia and the citizens by extension? Well, what I'm telling farmers presently, be vigilant. If you realize something fishy on the farm, something which is not familiar to you, seek help. Call the research department so that we can come do an investigation, probably take a sample. Because presently in St. Lucia, we don't have the facilities to diagnose this particular disease. And there are very few labs in the world that can do this for you. Some of the more renowned specialists for Blaxica Tuca, you have in South Africa and presently in some of the Latin American countries. So it means now we have to take the samples overseas for identification. Great, so at least, boy, let's keep our fingers crossed. Well, let's not keep our fingers crossed. We have to be prepared. That's the most important. Well, that's what I'm saying. If you are prepared, you may be able to do something. You know, prevent it from coming in. That's what I'm saying. Right, if you do your surveillance and you are able to detect early, you may be able to do something. But if you are not able to identify early, you're in for a fight. Great. Just before we end, I just want to tell the public about how important our banana industry is to us and that is when or why, when the Prime Minister made the statement of to consume more of what is produced locally and bananas was one of the items that he highlighted. Everybody wanted to crucify him, but he was correct. We need to eat fresh, St. Lucia's best. And that is why it went in a frenzy, a media frenzy. You know, I call it going bananas. And that gave rise to just at the end of our independence. We had a banana festival organized by the Annican Church, which was very successful. And the Ministry of Agriculture now is taking it to the next level. We're looking at the culinary aspect of it. And it is called the Banana Expo 2022. The theme is Figla Cisanutut and of course, featuring it, Fresh St. Lucia's Best. The Expo will be on the 2nd of May on the At the Constitution Park in Castris. And it's from 10 o'clock to 6 in the evening. We're going to feature a lot of culinary activities. We are looking at launching a recipe book, which has about 60 recipes, strictly banana-based. And that will be launched on that day. Coming from many, many chefs in St. Lucia, from Chef Orlando, from Chef Robbie, you know, and the list goes on, all chefs at various hotels are featured in that. And the schools will be participating. I have about over 30 schools. And you know, when schools are involved, they are anxious and they are out there to do so many derivatives from coming from bananas. The agro-processors are going to be there, looking at the banana wine, you know, banana flour. And the list goes on. So it's a day that we're talking bananas. We're going to feature the various varieties of bananas. And so I want you to come. And I don't want you to just tell you everything. What I will tell you, though, there will be a banana-eating competition, you know, to see how many bananas you can eat within one minute. I don't know for those of you who probably don't know. Sometimes in some, somewhere in the 60s, you know, St. Lucia made the Guinness Book of Records, where he ate a bunch of bananas. And that hit the Guinness Book of Records. I'm not sure, I'm sure that that has been broken. I can't recall how many. I know he is from New Village. His name was Joshua McCombie. I think he's in the States right now. I'll try to get some more information on that. And you'll get to know more of what's happening as the time gets closer. So there'll be a lot of activities, cooking competitions, cooking demonstrations, you know, at various hotels and restaurants. And even at those persons who have, at their homes, they have the proper facility. We will be airing that live. So you will see the whole idea is to eat what we produce. We can produce it. So let us utilize it. We are spotting it. Barbarians is taking our bananas and making so many things and we're buying it here, you know, added value on the shelves. So you can understand what we're talking about. So I want you all to attend this activity. You'll hear more about it on the 2nd of May at the Constitution Park. So, Kamran, the final words from you? Well, as you said, figs, glasses and no tooth. Yes, I am. So we need to protect the banana industry. As we know, banana revenue was instrumental in building the infrastructure for us. And the number of the roads that we see around the place is because of banana revenue. So it still has a significant role to play in terms of food security and cash flow for the local farmers. Well said, sir. Thank you very much, Mr. Clears Alexander, for being here. I wish you success in controlling or preventing it from getting to St. Lucia. Thank you. You're watching Agricultural on the Move. Thank you for viewing the program. And remember, agriculture is our business. Eat fresh. St. Lucia's best. I'm Philip Sidney. Goodbye.