The citrus sector in Tamaulipas is seriously threatened by the presence of yellow dragon disease, which in less than three years has devastated more than 80 percent of the citrus surface in Colima and Michoacan.
The risk in the central area devoted to this activity is enormous, as the psyllid infected by this disease have been detected within the 44,000 hectares devoted to the production of oranges, limes, and other citrus in the municipalities of Victoria, Padilla, Güémez, Hidalgo and Llera. Thus, inevitably, diseased trees will begin to appear pretty soon.
Javier Ibarra Echartea, president of the Emiliano Zapata citrus growers union, which is part of the National Peasant Confederation (CNC), said his colleagues had already detected several cases of affected commercial plantations, but that they still hadn't found any infected tree.
Each diseased tree, he said, must be destroyed immediately to prevent the plague from spreading. He also stated that this was the first time that the citrus industry was facing a risk that could wipe it out completely as there is currently no cure for this disease. Therefore, the preventive work through spraying is really important.
If the citrus sector disappears, he said, it would be a terrible blow to the economy of central Tamaulipas because at least 250,000 people, including farmers, their families, pickers, and transporters depend on this sector, as well as other trade activities that benefit from it indirectly.
He recognized that they were concerned that the disease could start attacking trees, which would require they sacrifice them to prevent the spread of this pest. The insect, he recalled, was first detected in backyard trees.
Source: laverdad.com.mx