New pact to fight deadly beetle in the SI
Quoting the Solomon Star newspaper – 25 June 2018
“THE New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade are close to reaching an agreement with the Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC) on the structure of a new project to assist with the management of the coconut rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros, in Solomon Islands.
“News of the agreement was conveyed to the Government and Palm Industries Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) taskforce this week.Coordinator of CRB Response Bob Macfarlane said this beetle is the most destructive insect pest of palms, particularly coconut and oil palm, worldwide.
“In other countries more than 50% of palms were killed in the first 10 years after it arrived,” Mr Macfarlane said.
“In Solomon Islands it is already causing significant damage, wherever it goes a very high proportion of palms are either severely damaged or killed,” he added.
“It is present in Honiara and has spread along the north coast of Guadalcanal and to North Malaita, Ngella, Savo, part of Russel Islands and Ulawa.
“A different strain of the same beetle has been detected in Shortlands and more recently in Gizo.”
“Mr Macfarlane said coconut is the most important plant in the country contributing significantly to export earnings and to village economies, food and livelihoods.
“Palm oil and palm kernel cake exports also contribute significantly to export earnings and employment.”
“He said the new MAL/NZ/SPC project will facilitate activities by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) to try to reduce the population of beetles and slow its spread.
“The project, he added, will fund action over the next two years in most beetle infested communities to help destroy all breeding sites, namely dead and rotting palms and rotting vegetation.
“Once the population of beetles has declined the level of attack will also decline.
“It is hoped that by that time another New Zealand project will have identified a new beetle virus disease that kills or reduces the spread of coconut rhinoceros beetle and the virus disease may be ready to release to keep the beetle numbers low.”
“Mr Macfarlane said the destruction of dead and rotting palms is not currently part of normal plantation management but will be required from now on.
“He stated another project supported by Strongim Bisnis will work with MAL and the NZ projects to help communities permanently change these habits of a life time.”
Copyright : Solomon Star.
