RADA, CARDI, Food Storage & Prevention of Infestation Division
Denise A Geoghagen,Food Storage & Prevention of Infestation Division; Phillip Chung,RADA;Dionne Clarke Harris, CARDI
Hot peppers were fumigated as a postharvest treatment against gall midges and citrus midge, pests of the hot pepper in Jamaica. The infestation of gall midges on Jamaican hot pepper had resulted in the removal of the commodity from its existing pre-clearance position in terms of its entry into the U.S.
Trial new fumigation techniques to combat hot pepper gall midge.
The stage now reached in field investigations do not allow for any meaningful impact in hot pepper gall midge management. The exercise has however enhanced the technical skills and approach of extension officers involved, in field surveillance. Exposure to sampling, mapping and GPS technology are notable. This has strengthened the institutional capability of RADA to better implement plant health field surveillance programs, now of growing importance to Jamaican agriculture and international trade in fresh produce.