Scientists at the Institute of Agricultural Research in Mikocheni, Tanzania, have called for urgent measures to be taken to fight the Asian Citrus Psyllid. The insect, which attacks citrus fruit trees has already been reported in places including India, South-East Asia, Saudi Arabia, the Arabian Gulf and Madagascar, but was identified for the first time in Tanzania in 2015.
Dr Chris Seguni says that the pest has recently caused severe loss in the United States and in some South American countries such as Brazil. The insect is not yet all over Tanzania, and he believes it can be contained if a plan of action is made quickly.
The Asian Citrus Psyllid is the main carrier of the bacteria responsible for the Yellow Dragon, or Huanglongbing disease, which firstly leads to yellowing then leaves falling off and eventually the tree dies.