Since there were two outbreaks of HLB infected insects in different parts of the country, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), Caqueta section, made public the measures to control the disease affecting citrus crops.
Even though Caqueta is currently free of HLB, the ICA held a training on Monday to socialize Resolution 2390 of 2015, regarding Colombia's current state of sanitary emergency because of the Diaphorina citri insect, which transmits the Huanglongbing in citrus crops.
Pedro Antonio Luna Lopez, an agronomist responsible for the citrus and sugarcane projects in Caqueta, spoke about the aggressive disease and the importance of preventing it.
Prevention
Following the rapid widespread of the disease, the ICA has strengthened its actions. They will perform insecticide spraying and biological controls to control it once the vector enters the department. After that, farmers and nurserymen must commit to disinfect their citrus material with insecticides registered at the institute.
"We will take measures regarding the entry of citric material, road police will demand phytosanitary licenses to people transporting citrus; in addition, we will continue surveillance and control in crops of cocoa, coffee, rubber, banana, sugarcane and other minor species," the ICA stated.
To date, the HLB disease has no cure. To prevent it, producers should buy certified propagation material in nurseries and maintain control of the citrus products entering their farms.
Source - freshplaza.com
