Map establishes pest prevention actions that could affect national fruit farming

The Agricultural Defense Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa) published this Tuesday (15), in the Official Gazette of the Union, Normative Instructions no. 111 e 112 which deal, respectively, with the National Pest Prevention and Surveillance Plans  Lobesia botrana  (European vine moth)  and Moniliophtora roreri  (Cocoa Moniliasis). Both pests make up the list of 20 absent pests prioritized within the scope of the National Program for the Prevention of Absent Quarantine Pests in Brazil. 

“The objective of the plans is to prevent the entry of exotic pests of economic importance into the country or adopt timely measures in the event of their eventual detection, thus avoiding their spread to other areas and the consequent economic and social damage to rural producers”, highlights the general coordinator of Plant Protection, Graciane de Castro. According to her, all 20 prioritized missing pests will have specific structured plans. 

The plague Lobesia botrana It is categorized as a Quarantine Absent Pest (PQA) in Brazil and poses a major threat to grape, blueberry, cherry and plum crops. It is considered the main pest of vines (Vitis vinifera). Brazilian winemaking has enormous social and economic importance due to its high impact on the generation of employment and income, both in the table grape segments (which represent more than half of the area cultivated with grapes in Brazil) and in grapes for processing, intended for the production of wines, sparkling wines, grape juice and other products. 

Moniliasis, caused by the fungus Moniliophthora roreri, is also PQA and considered the most devastating disease for cocoa. The pest has a history of causing great losses in other countries, with host varieties in Brazil being susceptible to this disease. As Brazil is a large producer of cocoa, its potential for harm to the country is evident. 

Actions to prevent the introduction of new pests in the country are a fundamental factor in the protection and sustainability of national fruit farming and have been particularly relevant this year, declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Plant Health, with the aim of raising global awareness of the advantages of protecting plant health, preventing world hunger, reducing poverty, protecting the environment and stimulating economic development.