Farmer-to-Farmer Supports Shooters Farmers Group in Jamaica
Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer, Dr. Zelalem Mersha, spent two weeks in Jamaica in March 2022. There, Dr. Mersha supported Shooters Farmers Group by teaching members different methods of detecting the Ginger Rhizome Rot pathogen, as well as preventative measures to stop the spread. Shooters Farmers Group, located in Kellits , Clarendon, was having issues regarding the outbreak of Ginger Rhizome Rot in lands that had been under production for over a period of 30 years. A Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer was requested to assist stakeholders in developing a framework to implement good agricultural practices to mitigate against the outbreak and further spreading of Ginger Rhizome Rot. This was Dr. Mersha’s first time volunteering in Jamaica with Farmer-to-Farmer. He has spent decades conducting research at different universities around the world, focusing on plant pathology. During his time volunteering, he was able to tailor his academic experience to fit the Farmer Field S