Farmers in Contramaestre prevent Giant African Snail Threat

The presence of the African Giant Snail (Lissachatina fulica) has not yet been detected in Contramaestre lands. However, integral technicians of agriculture from different productive bases are carrying out actions in the face of the threat of its coming into the territory. This mollusk is considered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as one of the one hundred most harmful exotic species in the world.

Misleidis Rodríguez Rodríguez, an integral technician of Saturnino Lora Agricultural Cooperative (CPA), told this website that preventing the coming of this snail is difficult because it has already been detected in Holguín and in the Veguita de Galo district in Santiago de Cuba city. In the cooperatives that present propitious conditions for the appearance of this plague, in the first place audiovisual materials were provided where information was provided about how it has behaved in the world as well as the presence in our country from 2014, date of its first detection.

Rodriguez Rodriguez also said that all agricultural technicians are prepared to address this invasive species, if located at any time in the municipality. We know the places where they could be, both in our homes and in humid places, mainly where there is accumulated garbage, a favorable environmental conditions that benefit their reproduction and adaptation.

The support of educational institutions located in remote communities has played a fundamental role in preventing any situation detected in the control and elimination of the African Giant Snail. In this regard, the integral technique argued that in the nearby schools where the cooperatives are located, children and teachers have been sensitized through videos so that they can learn about the snail. They have been informed of the usual places where they could live, emphasizing in the the explanation to children, telling them not to touch this mollusk, as it is a carrier of nematodes harmful to human health.

This prophylactic work through educational talks not only involves farmers, cooperatives and state workers of this economic line but also villagers.

Written by Radio Grito de Baire