According to Matai Seremaiah’s Facebook page, a team of scientists from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be assigned to eradicate the fire ants in Vanuatu, which are located on Tanna as well as in the Banks.
The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Forests, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB) has successfully negotiated assistance by way of using Sterile Insect Techniques (SIT) as the solution to eradicate fire ants in Vanuatu.
The minister admitted, “But firstly I have to show the Deputy Director where Vanuatu is on the map as he has no idea of where we are.
“The outcome is promising. He assured us that a team of scientists will be assigned to find a solution for us.”
Meanwhile fire ant specialist, late Silverio Bule said fire ants are tiny and not easy to see. They live in colonies and listen to only one ‘boss’ who is the queen ant.
In an exclusive interview at Lenakel on Tanna three days before his untimely death in the North in Luganville, Santo, he said a queen ant reproduces at will by laying 70 eggs a day.
The queen ant produces only one queen ant to replace it before it dies.
But workers have a lifespan of one month and are replaced by new workers.
Fire ants reproduce fast and a threat to the current mass planting of potato, carrot and onion on Tanna.
Bule said the onus is on the Government to act to eradicate the fire ants now in order to be able to harvest and market the agricultural crops outside of Tanna, especially in Port Vila.
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