Local farmers now have additional help in their fight to protect crops against damage from the Green Monkey population.
It’s a publication entitled Best Practices in Green Monkey Deterrence: A Manual for Farmers in Barbados, which has been produced by the Biodiversity Conservation and Management Section of the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification.
Due to a spike in complaints last year from farmers about crop damage caused by Green Monkeys, Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod, requested the reconvening of the Green Monkey Sub-committee of the Working Group on Biodiversity. He said the concerns of farmers had become a national priority.
To this end, various stakeholders from biodiversity conservation agencies, animal rights groups, agriculture development agencies and tourism management were assembled to chart a way forward and develop an action plan that was informed by accurate data.
However, it was agreed that in the interim, there needed to be some short-term measures to address the immediate problems faced by citizens, especially those farmers who were impacted, and the residents of areas frequently visited by Green Monkey troops.
The Ministry of Environment commissioned Justin Springer of Mosaic Consulting to develop a manual for farmers, with the aim of providing information for those experiencing crop losses.
The manual consists of a review of techniques used both locally and internationally to deter monkeys from raiding cultivated foods.
The aim is to describe methods that farmers can use to reduce monkey crop damage, and not methods to reduce monkey numbers.
It is envisioned that local farmers can employ the methods that best suit them to gain relief from monkeys affecting crop production.
The manual may be downloaded at the Biodiversity Conservation and Management’s website.
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Plant back trees on some of the Golf Courses.
Why are we not looking at providing birth control for the monkeys, there are programs all over the world that are looking at various way to lower the fecundity of female mammals that cause crop damage, transmit disease, or a just simply nuisances.
If a female monkey only has 1 or 2 babies in its life, then the total number of monkeys on the island will start to decline and the amount of damage would be reduced.
The advise on crop protection will not in all probability not address the matter of reducing the number of green monkeys and will as a result the problem will persist and grown worst over time. The proposed action is simply going to kick the problem down the road for others and future generations to deal with. Fifty years ago, there was no green monkey population problem in Barbados, because monkeys were fewer in number and typically could only be found in certain gullies or wooded areas in Barbados. It is interesting that the monkey population and has place of reference under the Tourism Management and National Beautification administrations, but there is no mention of the the Health and Business administration ministries or their related portfolios. Something is seriously out of place there.
As an experienced farmer I wish all luck with theses recommendations. Some will work if you have small holdings ie the dogs but bigger area good luck. Really like the caution tape suggestion. “CAUTION MONKEYS FEEDING”.