MRS. SANNIEL WILSON GRAHAM

Chief Plant Quarantine Produce Inspector & Head of National Plant Protection Organization, Jamaica

Jamaica joins in celebrating May 12, the International Day of Plant Health, as a proud legacy of the International Year of Plant Health 2020.

As a country and the Ministry charged with the responsibility of safeguarding our agriculture and natural resources from the introduction of plant pests and diseases, we remain committed to continue to raise awareness of the importance of plant health, particularly among our traders (importers and exporters) and the international travelling public.

Over the last decade, the increase in trade and travel has tripled and this has seen a concomitant increase in the spread of pests and diseases. The Ministry, in collaboration with our stakeholders, continues to implement policies and safeguarding measures to minimize the risk of spreading pests and diseases through trade and travel by ensuring compliance with international plant health standards.

We continue to strengthen our monitoring and early warning systems to protect plants and plant health. But, we cannot do it alone, and so as we celebrate IYPH, we are calling all our importers, exporters and traders to ‘Get Involved’. Help us prevent the spread of plant pests by being careful when ordering plants and plant products through channels such as e-commerce with postal services that bypass regular phytosanitary controls.

PROTECTING PLANTS, PROTECTING LIFE

Interesting Facts

• Plants make up 80 per cent of the food we eat and produce 98 per cent of the oxygen we breathe

• Plant pests are responsible for the loss of up to 40 per cent of global food crops, and for trade losses in agricultural products exceeding US$220 billion annually.

• The annual value of trade in agricultural products has grown almost three-fold over the past decade, largely in emerging economies and developing countries, reaching US$1.7 trillion.

• Climate change is having a big impact on plant health. It threatens to reduce both the quality and quantity of crops, leading to lower yields. Rising temperatures are also exacerbating water scarcity, and changing the relationship between pests, plants and pathogens.

WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY

Farmers

• Prevent the spread of pests by using only certi ed pest-free seeds and seedlings.

• Regularly monitor and report the occurrence of pests on your farms.

• Adopt environment-friendly pest-management practices that do not kill pollinators

• Take advantage of modern digital technology, mobile apps and software to access information about how to prevent and manage plant pests and diseases and to report outbreaks.

Consumers

• Workers in the transportation industries, make sure that ships, airplanes, trucks and trains don’t carry plant pests and diseases into new areas.

• Be careful when taking plants and plant products with you when you travel as they may spread plant pests and diseases. Contact the Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspection Branch beforehand to make sure that you are not infringing plant health laws.

• Be cautious when ordering plants and plant products online or through postal services as small packages can easily pass regular phytosanitary controls. Purchase from reputable companies that provide international phytosanitary certification for safe trade of plants and plant products.