Barbadians are again being encouraged to play their part to rid the island of the Giant African Snail, by taking part in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Bounty Programme.
In effect since March 2009, the programme offers a bounty of 50 cents per pound for snails collected by the general public.
After the snails are captured, they should be taken to the Ministry of Agriculture, Graeme Hall, Christ Church; or persons may call the Ministry’s Entomology Section at 434-5107 and make arrangements for collection.
Persons are required to give their name, address and contact telephone number.
The snails are weighed and persons are given a receipt. Staff of the Ministry will then take the Giant African Snails to be burnt at Graeme Hall.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s Accounts section will inform persons by telephone when they should collect their money or persons may call the section at 434-5068.
Anyone can participate in the Bounty Programme, whether individuals or community groups.
In the past two years, 264 tonnes of Giant African Snails have been collected, with an estimated 7 to 7.5 million snails destroyed.