Jussara producers are authorized to export watermelon, melon and pumpkin

Through the work of the Goiana Agricultural Defense Agency (Agrodefesa), an agency of the Government of Goiás, another municipality was included in the Risk Mitigation System (SMR) for the pest Anastrepha grandis, a species of fruit fly, in cucurbit crops, such as watermelon, melon and pumpkin. As a result, from now on, producers from Jussara, in the Northwest Region of the State, will be able to export fresh cucurbit fruits to countries that have quarantine restrictions regarding the pest.

Jussara is the 17th municipality in Goiás to receive the status that allows the export of these fruits. The recognition was made by the Agricultural Defense Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SDA/Mapa), with the publication of Ordinance No. 1.002/2024 in the Official Gazette of the Union (DOU) on February 1, 2024.

“Agrodefesa has a very important role with fruit growers, assisting them with legislation and technical standards to enable issues, such as the requirements for exporting cucurbits, such as watermelon, melon and pumpkin, which have great economic importance for our State ”, assesses the president of Agrodefesa, José Ricardo Caixeta Ramos. “Having another new municipality recognized is also a merit of our employees who, together with the responsible technical agronomists, have achieved important results like this for our State.”

The status has been achieved by municipalities in Goiás since 2006, being implemented first in Uruana, Carmo do Rio Verde, Itapuranga and Jaraguá – large fruit producers in the State. In addition to these municipalities, the following were also recognized with the status: Rio Verde, Santa Helena, Maurilândia, Cristalina, Ipameri, Goianésia, São Miguel do Araguaia, Edealina, Luziânia, Nova Crixás, Rubiataba and Porangatu.

“Agrodefesa’s work ranges from guidance on procedures, preparation of documentation with the technical manager, to procedures with the Ministry for the recognition of the Risk Mitigation System for this pest”, explains Agrodefesa’s Plant Health manager, Daniela Rézio.

The latest data from Municipal Agricultural Production from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (PAM/IBGE) indicate that, in 2022, Goiás produced 239 thousand tons of watermelon, being the largest national producer of the fruit. In the ranking among the largest exporters, according to Agrostat do Mapa, the State occupies seventh position, having sold US$106,7 thousand (in FOB Value) and 1.361 tons of fruit to other countries in 2023. Among the main destinations of Goiana watermelon are Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina.

Technical procedure

For the recognition of new municipalities, the interested producer must carry out phytosanitary surveys on cucurbit crops for a minimum and uninterrupted period of six months, duly accompanied by a Technical Manager (RT) qualified by Agrodefesa. After six months, the Agency prepares a project with the survey data and forwards it to the Ministry of Agriculture requesting official recognition of the new municipality in the SMR.

Coordinator of the Risk Mitigation System Program for Cucurbits at Agrodefesa, Mário Sérgio de Oliveira says that, in the case of Jussara, the producer expressed interest to Agrodefesa in joining the SMR as a pest management option for cucurbit production. He began the pest detection and delimitation survey in December 2022, for an uninterrupted period of six months. “After six months, we prepared the project with the survey data and sent it to the Ministry of Agriculture requesting official recognition of the new municipality in the SMR. With the publication of the Ordinance, the municipality is officially recognized”, highlights the manager.

In addition to working directly with producers, Agrodefesa and Mapa also provide training courses for agronomists aimed at qualifying for the Phytosanitary Certification of Origin (CFO) and Consolidated Phytosanitary Certification of Origin (CFOC) for the pest. Anastrepha grandis in cucurbits.