RECENT FLASH FLOODS HELP SPREAD GIANT AFRICAN SNAIL

The recent flash floods on Guadalcanal has spread the Giant African Snail. Photo credit: The Hindu.

Recent flash floods at the Guadalcanal Plains earlier this month has helped to spread the Giant African Snail to places it has never reached before.

SIBC’s North Guadalcanal stringer, Dudley Gani reports, people have sighted the snail in new places.

He says with certain areas on the Guadalcanal Plains already infested with the snail, with new land areas following suite, it is a double disaster especially for local farmers at the Plains.

Mr. Gani says it is likely that new gardens and farms planted on new farmlands after the floods will be infested with the pest.

SIBC News understands, as part of its efforts to contain the spread of the snail, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock through its Quarantine Division has snail baits available to contain the spread of the Giant African Snail.