“Safeguarding sugarcane health through science, surveillance, and sustainable pest management.”
The Plant Protection Unit is the guardian of Jamaica’s sugarcane industry, protecting fields from the devastating effects of pests and diseases. By integrating expertise in entomology and pathology, the Unit provides a comprehensive approach to crop health management that combines research, surveillance, diagnostics, and biological control.
Biological Control Programme
At the heart of its work is the Biological Control Programme, a national initiative that mass rears and releases natural enemies such as Cotesia flavipes and Trichogramma exiguum to suppress the sugarcane borer — one of the crop’s most serious pests. This programme has successfully reduced infestations to below economic thresholds across the island, safeguarding yields and improving profitability for farmers.
Services & Activities
The Unit’s services extend far beyond biological control. It conducts routine surveillance of cane fields, performs diagnostic testing in its entomology laboratory, and implements integrated pest management strategies that reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. Each year, surveys are carried out to monitor diseases such as smut, rust, and ratoon stunting disease, providing stakeholders with reliable data to guide decision-making.
- Pest and Disease Surveillance — Monitoring sugarcane fields to detect and track major pest and disease outbreaks.
- Diagnostic Services — Conducting laboratory and field-based diagnosis of pests and pathogens affecting sugarcane.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) — Developing and promoting sustainable strategies for pest and disease control.
- Technical Advisory Services — Providing guidance and recommendations to estates, farmers, and stakeholders on best practices for plant health.
- Applied and Strategic Research — Designing and implementing research on pest and disease management, including resistance screening and molecular studies.
- Varietal Screening — Assessing newly developed sugarcane varieties for tolerance and resistance to pests and diseases, such as the sugarcane stalk borer and smut.
- Annual Borer Damage Survey — Evaluating borer impact and population levels to guide industry-wide management strategies.
- Biological Control Programme — Managing the rearing, quality assurance, and release of Cotesia flavipes for the suppression of sugarcane borer populations.
- Capacity Building and Training — Delivering workshops, manuals, and extension support to build stakeholder knowledge and skills.
Facilities
Led by the Chief Plant Protection Officer and supported by the Research/Lab Assistant, the Unit combines technical expertise with on-the-ground engagement. Its facilities include a specialized entomology laboratory, survey and diagnostic equipment, and tools for disease screening and severity indexing.
Achievements
The Unit’s achievements include the establishment of island-wide resistance screening, the publication of research in international journals, and a proven track record of reducing pest and disease pressure across the industry. Farmers and estate managers directly benefit from lower crop losses and improved profitability, while the industry as a whole gains resilience and stability.
Education & Outreach
Through training workshops, entomology sessions, factsheets, and presentations at forums such as the Jamaica Association of Sugar Technologists (JAST), the Plant Protection Unit remains committed to education and outreach. By blending science with service, the Unit plays a critical role in ensuring that Jamaica’s sugar industry remains productive, sustainable, and globally competitive.