The municipalities of Valle de Guadalupe and Arandas, Jalisco, were declared pest-free areas of the plagues known as avocado borers, which will increase their productivity with higher quality fruit.
The state Delegation of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), reported this new phytosanitary status through a statement. The municipalities of San Pedro Lagunillas in Nayarit and Donato Guerra, in the State of Mexico, were also declared pest-free areas.
The federal agency reiterated that that statement, which was published in the Official Journal of the Federation (DOF), would help the avocado growers of these municipalities to increase their productivity and competitiveness. They stated that these municipalities were free of the following pests: the avocado seed borer (Heilipus Lauri), the small borer of avocado seeds (Conotrachelus aguacatae and C. perseae), and the bone borer moth (Stenoma catenifer).
The publication of this agreement, signed by the holder of SAGARPA, José Calzada, strengthens the objective of improving plant health status of the avocado producing areas in Mexico, as well as the domestic and international trade of avocado.
The new phytosanitary status contributes to increase the productivity and competitiveness of avocado producers of the four municipalities of Nayarit, Jalisco, and the State of Mexico, as they will no longer have restrictions to export or for mobilizing their product.
To issue the declaration, the technicians of the National Health Service, Food Safety and Quality (SENASA) confirmed the absence of pests in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Official Mexican Standard NOM-066-FITO-2002, specifications for phytosanitary management and Avocado mobilization.
Likewise, they applied the phytosanitary measures to determine the absence of the avocado seed borers, established in NOM-069-FITO-1995. The areas were recognized as pest free areas based on assessments of the phytosanitary status made by the technical delegations of SAGARPA in Nayarit, Jalisco, and the State of Mexico, as well as by the general direction of Plant Health from Senasica.
The agreement also establishes the phytosanitary measures to be implemented to maintain and protect the area from the avocado seed borers contained in the above standards. Sagarpa added that with these actions, they meet the provisions of the Prosperous Mexico National Development Plan 2013-2018, which aims at achieving the full potential of Mexico through productivity in a climate of economic stability and regulation for healthy competition.
Source: Notimex