São Paulo Department of Agriculture and Fundecitrus form a partnership for the sustainability of citrus farming

The São Paulo Department of Agriculture and Supply (SAA) and the Citrus Defense Fund - Fundecitrus signed an agreement to stimulate the sustainable development of citrus farming, through the Sustainable Citrus SP Project. The objective is to transfer knowledge to citrus growers, helping to combat citrus pests and diseases, with emphasis on greening, the biggest phytosanitary challenge in citrus farming worldwide. The signing of the document took place today (5), at the institution's headquarters, in Araraquara.

Citrus farming is one of the most important activities in the country and the state. The citrus belt, which comprises São Paulo and Triângulo and Southwest of Minas Gerais, is the largest orange juice producing region in the world, which stands out among the main products exported by São Paulo agribusiness, with turnover of around US$ 1,3 billion in 2020, according to the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex). In the region, citrus farming generates around 200 thousand direct and indirect jobs and maintains 182 thousand hectares of preserved forest - the recognition of its role in the São Paulo economy led the São Paulo government to reduce the ICMS on the juice.

For State Secretary of Agriculture Itamar Borges, the partnership helps to strengthen the sector, which is important from economic, social and environmental aspects. “This is a very important step for us to work together to raise awareness, guide and combat greening. Our purpose is one and the same, it is to strengthen the citrus industry, support the producer and generate employment and income”, he emphasizes.

The president of Fundecitrus, Lourival Monaco, says that joint actions between the institution and SAA help to further strengthen São Paulo's citrus industry, as they involve decisive points for maintaining its competitiveness. “The partnership with SAA comes to strengthen São Paulo’s citrus industry and highlights its importance. The measures established aim at the sustainable development of the sector and will be important to contain the advance of greening, respecting the characteristics of the regions from an edaphoclimatic, cultural, social and phytosanitary point of view”, he adds.

dissemination of knowledge

The partnership seeks to exchange research results, transfer new technologies and exchange experiences in order to train and update small and medium-sized citrus growers, emphasizing the importance of planning, management of production processes and plant health in orchards. Several educational projects are planned, which will be carried out by the Sustainable Rural Development Coordination (CDRS) and the Agricultural Defense Coordination (CDA) together with Fundecitrus. 

Combating greening

Greening has no cure and causes serious damage to production, reducing productivity and fruit quality. According to an annual survey carried out by Fundecitrus, the disease is present in 22,37% of orange trees in the citrus belt, which is equivalent to more than 43 million diseased trees. 

Compared to last year, the incidence increased by 7,2%. This is the highest level since its identification in Brazil, in 2004, and is also the fourth consecutive increase in the disease.

The president of Fundecitrus emphasizes that the average incidence is not the best indicator of the severity of the problem, as there are very critical regions, where the incidence of diseased plants exceeds 50%, and also regions that are less affected and more controlled.

“We have to extend integrated greening management to all regions to maintain the effectiveness of a control that has shown success where it is incorporated into operational and phytosanitary technologies,” says Monaco.

To collaborate in combating greening, the partnership foresees several actions, such as the development of a training plan for 130 CDRS and CDA technicians to work in priority citrus growing regions, management activities aimed at citrus growers and a society awareness campaign about the disease.

The work plan signed today lasts five years.