Government debates strategies for the eventual arrival of the locust cloud in RS

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), through the Federal Superintendency of Agriculture of Rio Grande do Sul (SFA-RS), and the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development (Seapdr) held a video conference this Thursday- fair (23) to outline measures to control the pest Shistocerca cancellata. The meeting was coordinated by secretary Covatti Filho. The cloud of locusts is found in the province of Corrientes, in Argentina, 98 kilometers from the municipality of Barra do Quaraí in Rio Grande do Sul.  

The head of Seapdr's Plant Health Defense Division, Ricardo Felicetti, stated that the Secretariat already has an emergency plan to suppress outbreaks of Schistocerca cancellata locusts established. “It is currently in the surveillance and monitoring phase, working to obtain and generate information about the cloud in the neighboring country, along with providing information to producers, as well as field surveillance.” According to him, the state of alert is maintained due to the proximity of the cloud. “However, there is no evidence that it will enter Rio Grande do Sul soil in the coming days”, he believes.

“But, if necessary, we all have to act quickly, as the pest is very active. The cloud moved 30 kilometers overnight”, warned Felicetti. According to the agronomist, it is necessary to combine efforts to combat the enemy, which can cause serious damage to agriculture in Rio Grande do Sul. “To this end, it is essential that producers are on alert and report any evidence of the cloud to the Seapdr agricultural defense inspectorates, or to the nearest municipal offices of Emater/RS-Ascar, as well as acting jointly in control, should they occur. the outbreaks.”

According to Secretary Covattti Filho, who was in Brasília this Wednesday (22), the R$600 resource, which will be released by Mapa, can be used to purchase products for phytosanitary treatment and contract application services of insecticides. “The resources include 21 days of treatment, aimed at initial control and the generations that are born from the females’ postures. But we believe that the chance of the cloud reaching the State in the next few days is low.”

Felicetti clarified that, if chemical control is adopted, applications are always subject to the prescription of an agronomic recipe with a specific recommendation for the pest and attribution of technical responsibility, in addition to being supervised by Seapdr. “They will be done in a safe manner, aiming to preserve the environment and mainly to protect human and consumer health.”

Regarding agricultural aviation, Felicetti informed that there are planes available that would carry out the application. “Availability is for strategic location, since the cloud is highly mobile. With this, the aircraft closest to where the cloud is located could be activated, in order to apply control as quickly as possible.” 

Also participating in the virtual meeting were representatives of the Agriculture Federation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Farsul), the Federation of Agricultural Workers in Rio Grande do Sul (Fetag), the Federation of Municipal Associations of Rio Grande do Sul (Famurs), Emater /RS-Ascar, rural unions, Seapdr, as well as mayors and municipal secretaries of Agriculture.