Agriculture minister says rainy weather helped to boost tick infestation

By: Chaïra Flanders

Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 27, 2020 (ZIZ News): Rainy weather conditions in St. Kitts and Nevis have boosted the resurgence of the parasite known as the Amblyomma variegatum, commonly known as the tropical bont tick which is responsible for the skin disease Dermatophilosis in livestock.

That’s according to Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Eugene Hamilton during a presentation at the Department of Agriculture’s Annual Review and Planning Meeting at the St. Kitts Marriot on Tuesday.

Minister Hamilton said another issue that helped to escalate the infestation was what he called the careless handling of animals by farmers who too often allow their animals to roam freely.

This he said allows the tropical bont tick to easily attach itself to the animal and spread of the disease.

He also explained that shortage of the pesticide Bayticol which kills the tropical bont tick, is not just in St. Kitts but across the region.

The government has since embarked on a Dermatophilosis Disease Control Program where experts will administer the Bayticol free of cost to infected animals over a 6 month period.

Minister Hamilton also revealed that through this program, the cost of the pesticide has been factored in the annual budget to ensure the adequate supply for farmers.

Other key speakers at the meeting were Director of Agriculture, Melvin James; Crops Programme Leader, Oswald Browne; Head of Plant Protection Unit, Jeanelle Kelly and Chief Veterinarian and Head of Livestock Sub Programme Leader, Dr. Tracy Challenger.