Dear Editor,
According to Alliance for Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Mrs Valerie Lowe, an invasion of acoushi ants is destroying farming areas in Moruka. Farmers with kitchen gardens watch in horror at the ants eating away at their germinating plants, and the government has no answer to the problem.
In the past Amerindians had used traditional methods to control the ants, however, nowadays the battle is fought with chemicals which is very expensive. There is no subsidy from the government.
The focus in acoushi management has invariably been on reducing the population of ants. In this regard, many farmers and agriculture officers aim for eradication, which is generally not possible. The aim should be to manage the ants, keeping them at levels that are not likely to cause economic damage. Owing to the unusual nature of the weather patterns at this time, an entomologist is needed at off-station locations. According to reliable sources the government has stopped supplying the chemical to eradicate acoushi ants over the past two years, which is causing the ant population to increase.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
