Ramu Valley in Madang Province and the surrounding districts in Madang and Morobe has been declared as a ‘disease area’.
Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Tommy Tomscoll in a media statement said the declaration has taken effect as of Aug 24, through the National Gazette number G593.
He said Ramu Agri Ltd (RAIL) reported the occurrence of sugar smut at their commercial sugarcane production fields to NAQIA on Aug 2 and sought assistance to confirm the detection of the disease.
“They also assist in implementing quarantine measures as in the emergency respond plan for sugar cane smut,” says Tomscoll.
Sugarcane smut is very serious disease and will have significant impact on biodiversity of sugarcane and related species in the country besides social and economic implications.
Tomscoll said the specimens of the fungus have been sent to Australia for further confirmation using molecular tests.
He said currently scientists from NAQIA and RAIL are conducting delimiting surveys in the districts bordering RAIL sugarcane production areas.
“Follow up delimiting surveys will be conducted nationwide to determine the extent of spread or distribution of the disease in other parts of the country,” Tomscoll added.
He said the immediate concern is to prevent the spread of sugarcane smut from RAIL to other areas in Madang Province and neighbouring provinces.
He said RAIL and NAQIA have started to implement the containment program and this work will continue.
Tomscoll is calling on all concern people to cooperate with NAQIA and RAIL officers to contain and prevent the spread of the sugarcane smut to other areas and save sugarcane and other species.