Brazilian agriculture officials recently visited Fundecitrus to discuss the first steps in implementing the National Greening Prevention and Control Program, which will be implemented by the states. The officials were with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) and the Agricultural Defense Coordination Office of the State of São Paulo.
The ordinance establishing the National Greening Prevention and Control Program redefines, among other points, stricter guidelines for monitoring the disease, controlling the transmitting insect and eradicating diseased plants.
Ricardo Hilman, MAPA’s general coordinator of plant protection, emphasized the importance of the national plan and the need for joint actions to mitigate the spread of greening.
“The disease is undoubtedly the biggest problem facing our citrus industry,” Hilman said. “With the national program, we address not only upcoming actions but also all the work that needs to be initiated, especially in São Paulo, where the national citrus industry is concentrated. Over the next few months, we will organize ourselves to improve this fight against greening and, thus, reduce its incidence in the future. That is the main goal.”
The regulation, which included Fundecitrus as one of the advisory bodies, classifies Brazilian states into areas with and without greening, establishing specific responsibilities for each situation.
The August meeting also brought together citrus nursery producers, who emphasized the need to expand discussions on revising federal legislation regarding citrus canker.
For Fundecitrus researcher Franklin Behlau, the initial implementation of the national plan and the negotiations to adapt nursery requirements represent an important step forward for producers.
“It is essential that there is interaction between all those involved in developing regulations governing the control of quarantine diseases, under the responsibility of official control, ensuring that they are aligned with the needs and realities of producers,” Behlau said.
Source: Fundecitrus
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