Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development recently pointed out ways the country has successfully dealt with huanglongbing (HLB), the most devastating disease of citrus worldwide. The ministry reported that the disease has triggered socioeconomic problems in other citrus-producing countries and regions in the Americas, Africa and Asia.
“With appropriate agronomic-phytosanitary management, the life of affected trees can be prolonged, healthy fruits can be obtained and the quality of citrus can be maintained,” the ministry stated.
“It is essential that producers carry out agronomic management of their orchards, to protect and extend the productive life of their trees, for which the government of Mexico offers advice and training,” the ministry stated. It pointed out that a collaboration between the Service for the National Health for Food Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA) and producers has provided the opportunity to mitigate the effects of HLB for more than 13 years through the management of HLB’s insect vector, the Asian citrus psyllid.
“Added to this are the works of the General Coordination of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, in conjunction with SENASICA, the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research and the College of Postgraduates Studies,” the ministry stated. Those entities have trained producers to share nutrition techniques and recommendations on proper care of sweet and sour citrus trees and, thereby, extend their productive life.
In September 2023, the Comprehensive and Strategic Agronomic Plan in the National Citrus Sector was presented, the ministry reported. “In addition to providing training to producers and technicians, non-certified nurseries were instructed to strengthen their productive capacity and guarantee the quality and health of the crops,” it stated. That measure allows the delivery of healthy plants to citrus producers and monitoring actions through a network of 38,440 contact traps to capture the Asian citrus psyllid, among other tasks.
Source: Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development