AgroPages-Use of fungicides in Bolivia boosts-Agricultural news

The use of fungicides increased by 7% in the department with increased agricultural production due to climatic conditions in the winter campaign led to the proliferation of fungi, especially in soybean crops.

According to the Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade (IBCE), in 2013 a total of 5.4 million kilos of fungicides were imported, thus showing a 21 percent year-on-year increase.

The president of the Association of Agricultural Input Suppliers (APIA), Marcelo Traverso, revealed that the most commonly used formulas are the mix of strobilurins and triazoles, which, apart from soy are also being used in corn and vegetables.

Until May 2014, Bolivia imported a little over 2 million kilograms of fungicide ($ 26.2 million), an encouraging figure for a sector than in 2013 achieved to successfully introduced more than 5.4 million kilograms ($71, 3 million).

To end, Traverso said the biggest supplier of inputs (fungicides, herbicides and insecticides, etc) is China. Accoding to IBCE, China sold more than 2.1 million kilograms, which accounts for 40% of total imports; followed by Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. However, Brazil leads in terms of value $25,715,453 sold; followed by Argentina with $12 million; and China with $9 million.