Map declares quarantine for the state of Acre to contain cocoa moniliasis

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) declared the state of Acre as an “area under quarantine” for the absent quarantine pest Moniliophthora roreri (Cocoa Moniliasis), detected for the first time in Brazil in an urban area in the municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul (AC). The measure was published in the Official Gazette of the Union this Thursday (05/08), through Ordinance No. 372. 

The declaration, made for the entire state of Acre, implies a ban on the transit of plant materials (fruits, plants) that host the pest (species of the genus Theobroma e Herrania) coming from across the state to the other units of the federation.  

“This is a precautionary measure, which aims to provide greater support for inspection actions on the transit of vegetables, carried out by the State Agricultural Defense Agencies, with a view to preventing the spread of the pest to free areas of the country, mainly to areas of cocoa and cupuaçu cultivation”, explains the general coordinator of Plant Protection, Graciane de Castro. 

The status of "area under quarantine" for the entire state will remain in force until the work to delimit the exact area where the pest occurs is completed and the planned measures for preventing and eradicating the pest provided for in the National Plan for Prevention and Surveillance of the pest are structured. Moniliophthora roreri. 

Last month, a focus of the plague was detected in an urban residential area in the municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul, in the interior of Acre. 

Cocoa Moniliasis 

Moniliasis is a devastating disease that mainly affects plants of the genus Theobroma, such as cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) and cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum), causing losses in production and an increase in costs due to the need for additional management measures and application of fungicides to control the pest. 

This is a disease that affects only the host plants of the fungus, without any risk of harm to human health. 

The Map warns that due to its potential for damage to the crops it affects, it is of fundamental importance to immediately notify the local phytosanitary authorities of any suspected occurrence of the pest in other regions of the country. 

In South America, the plague is already present in Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia and Peru.