Congress approved a decree obliging the Ministry of Agriculture to fumigate banana and plantain plantations.
Decree 7-2020 approved the Law for the Protection of Banana and Plantain Crops in the Republic of Guatemala, a law that, in addition to protecting banana crops, also promotes the economic development of the banana sector, Congress reported in a press release.
The Costa Rican government and producers signed an agreement that establishes that any government agency may request resources to carry out national and international activities to prevent or combat any pest that affects banana crops.
Guatemalan producers report that their profit margins have been reduced because the threat of the Fusarium R4T pest has forced them to increase their spending on phytosanitary measures and crop biosecurity.
After the presence of the pest Fusarium R4T in Colombia was confirmed, in Costa Rica the producers' guild asked the authorities to decree a national state of emergency to prevent the entry of the disease into the country.
Costa Rica has updated the mandatory phytosanitary measures for imports, while in Guatemala protocols are being implemented in the fields where the fruit is harvested, because of the threat of Fusarium R4T disease.
Authorities of the South American country confirmed the presence of Fusarium R4T, in a limited area of 175 hectares in the department of Guajira.
Weeks ago, the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) reported that because of the suspicion of the fungus in Colombia, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) issued a resolution on June 25, which declares in phytosanitary quarantine the farm Don Marce, in the municipality of Riohacha in the department of La Guajira, for the presence of symptoms associated with the pest Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Raza 4 Tropical.
Following Panama's decision, the phytosanitary authorities in Guatemala and Costa Rica restricted the entry of banana and plantain-derived materials from any country because of the alert for the pest known as "wilt for fusarium.”
In the case of Guatemala, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) reported that as part of the protection and preservation of the regional agricultural heritage, the Guatemalan population and national banana and plantain producers were informed that Guatemala had activated prevention and warning measures to prevent the threat of Fusarium Oxysporum race 4 disease.
Because of the suspected presence of the pest known as "fusarium wilt" in Colombia, authorities in Panama banned the entry of materials derived from plantains and bananas from any country.
The government reinforced quarantine control measures at airports, ports and borders, and categorically prohibited the entry into the country of any plantain or banana material suspected of carrying the fungus, according to the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA).
Because of the suspicion that exists in Colombia about the presence of the pest known as "wilt by fusarium", an alert was issued in the countries of Central America.
The International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA), reported that because of the suspicion of the fungus in Colombia, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) issued a resolution on June 25, which declares in phytosanitary quarantine the farm Don Marce, located in the municipality of Riohacha in the department of La Guajira, for the presence of symptoms associated with the pest Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Race 4 tropical.
During the period from May to June this year, rainfall in the region is forecast to be below normal, leading to increased crop pests and a shortage of animal feed.
The International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) reported that because of the lack of rain is predicted a greater presence of pests in crops of corn, beans and sorghum, due to projected low rainfall from May to July 2019, compared to the historical average.
Because of the dry season and the rise in temperature, Costa Rica expects an increase in pests in crops such as melon, watermelon, courgette, chili, tomato, beans and cucumbers, among others.
Authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) informed that the climatic conditions foreseen for the coming months are associated with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon.
Normal temperature and humidity conditions could increase the incidence and severity of coffee rust, especially in the areas of Honduras, Guatemala, southern Mexico and Nicaragua.
The Climate and Agricultural Health Bulletin, by the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health, shows the outlook for the climate in the coming months, and details the impact that humidity and rainfall conditions could have on crops and agricultural activity in Central America.
Government and representatives of the sector have announced the creation of a work commission that will focus on defining new strategies to boost the coffee activity in the country.
Representatives from the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) and coffee producers held a session in which they agreed to work together on various issues that impact on the activity of the sector, among which, are the effects caused by pests.
According to the union of coffee growers the threat of an increase in the incidence of rust remains high, in the regions of Coto Brus and Turrialba.
The "Early warning and recommendation system for the combat of Rust" by the Coffee Research Center, details that the threat of increase of rust remains high in the regions of Coto Brus and Turrialba. However, in the localities located in the regions of Pérez Zeledón, Zona Norte, Central Valley, Western Valley and Los Santos, the threat is gradually reduced depending on altitude and microclimates.
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