o the Forum:Before we bring in the eradicators at great expense to the taxpayers and inconvenience to backyard gardeners, we should first examine our logic. As I have read, the banana industry here on Kaua’i grosses $30,000 a year. Not
o the Forum:Before we bring in the eradicators at great expense to the
taxpayers and inconvenience to backyard gardeners, we should first examine our
logic.
As I have read, the banana industry here on Kaua’i grosses $30,000 a
year. Not exactly a big deal! It has also been said the banana virus is also
carried by heliconias. The cut flower industry in Hawai’i is a big deal. Is it
logical to eradicate the banana while the heliconias just hold the virus until
we replant the banana, only to pop out again? How many times will we attempt to
eliminate this disease before choosing the alternative?
Developing
resistant strains of banana would seem to be a better use of our time and
resources.
Luther Burbank showed us what could be done with plants a long
time ago. It’s too bad we have evolved to an eradication era rather that
letting nature take its course and the keen eye picking out the resistant
strain which would lead to an eradication free future.
Aloha,
Dan
Shook
