Farmer-to-Farmer Supports Shooters Farmers Group in Jamaica

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    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 School model of training, concentrating on a more hands-on approach. 




    During the first week of Dr. Mersha’s trip, he met with Nematology Experts at Bodles Research Station to discuss plant pathology and crop protection. There, he also learned more about the research being conducted to prevent the spread of Ginger Rhizome Rot disease.  

 

    The following week, Dr. Mersha had the chance to meet with members of the Shooters Farmers Group and farmers at Kellits Elementary School. He trained participants by leading demonstrations and left the farmers with several recommendations on mitigation strategies for the next growing season.   

 

    As a result, Dr. Mersha was able to achieve a workable solution in Ginger Rhizome Rot mitigation while including farmers’ current practices. He also engaged with the technical team at the Bodles Research Station and the Ministry of Agriculture’s initiatives at Bodles where there was an exchange of ideas on his own research.  

 

    Local stakeholders and members of Shooters Farmers Group were able to move forward with the implementation of protocols developed by Dr. Mersha and are now better prepared to mitigate the effects of Ginger Rhizome Rot disease. 










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