AgroPages-Brazil declares phytosanitary emergency‏ against Helicoverpa-Agricultural news

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Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply declared phytosanitary emergency status in the southeast regions of Maranhão state, because of an outbreak of Helicoverpa armigera in locations such as Chapadinha and Balsas.

A decree was published at the Union Official Gazette, after a request from the State Agency of Crop Protection, an organism under the Maranhão's Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply. The goal is to adopt a plan for suppressing the plague and emergency measures, with one year for implementation.

"Which measures should be adopted will depend on the economic damage, type of crop and the cost-benefits relation", said the agricultural inspector Hamilton Cruz from the Crop Protection Agency. After the decree of phytosanitary emergency, the Ministry of Agriculture can release the chemical control products - for instance, the controversial emamectin benzoate.

"But it will not be that any farmers could obtain the authorization to use the product, but only those whose farms are affected, after they send a request and the required documents to the Ministry of Agriculture", explained the inspector.