Peru and Ecuador strengthen HLB prevention strategy

By Leonardo Gottems, Reporter for AgroPages

Through agreements established during the Binational Cabinets, SENASA Peru and Agrocalidad Ecuador developed surveillance actions on the northern border, an initiative part of the articulated strategy to prevent the entry of greening (HLB) in Peru, which is a country free of the disease that attacks citrus.

The phytosanitary surveillance sessions were held in the Tumbes and Piura regions (Peru), and in the province of El Oro and Loja (Ecuador). The activity lasted for five days and allowed the prospecting of properties located in sectors such as Aguas Verdes, Zarumilla, Caleta La Cruz, Suyo, Lancones, Huaquillas Arenillas, Macará and Zapotillo.

During the tour, specialists identified the geographical location of the citrus production sites operated on, and exchanged technical experiences to strengthen the surveillance methods used to prevent the entry and establishment of the vector.

After the development of the activities and a technical meeting, the teams from Peru and Ecuador committed to strengthen binational commitments in the surveillance and control of the vector, Diaphorina citri.

Huanglongbing is a destructive disease that has no cure and attacks citrus groves. It causes the yellowing of the shoots and later spreads throughout the plant until it causes its death, fruit drop and a flavor change in the juice of the sweet citrus.

Since 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of Peru, through SENASA, has developed a national strategy for the early detection and avoiding of the establishment of greening and its vectors. It does this by conducting phytosanitary surveys in border areas, commercial fields, and citrus groves.