The appearance of a black sigatoka outbreak, a pest that attacks the banana plantation leaves, in an abandoned farm in Bocas del Toro, Panama, could threaten employment for 5,000 banana workers.
Agronomist Luis Núquez Saneth, banana producer and president of the Association of Independent banana Producers in the province of Bocas del Toro, made the complaint.
He pointed out that this disease must be taken care of at once and efficiently, because if it were to spread to other farms, the consequences could be catastrophic.
"This disease thrives in high humidity conditions and precisely, in Bocas del Toro, we are having heavy rain, right after comes sunshine causing the spores to go flying hundreds of meters in the air, and contaminating all the plants in its path," added Núquez.
Source: Padigital