The incidence of the HLB (Huanglongbing) disease in citrus and the transmitter insect in the crops of Paraguay is still low, only 20% of the plantations that were inspected are infested said Jorge Flores, a Mexican international expert.
He said that they located about 100 adult psyllids in all of the inspected plots, which is a small population compared to Mexico, where one can find about 50 psyllids per parcel or site.
He also reported that 25 plots in the departments of Itapúa, Caazapá, San Pedro, Cordillera, Alto Paraná and el Chaco, where they found diseased plants with very visible symptoms and a low vector population, had been inspected.
Jorge Flores considered that Paraguay could still contain the HLB, if adequate control measures are applied.
Don Anselmo Riveros, from the Canacerro farm located in Caazapá said that the HLB plague would be very expensive due to the chemical costs, and even more expensive should they have to remove the plants, which would mean producers would have to start the planting and development process for oranges and grapefruit again.
The experts presented a report of the work done in the country in coordination with Senave's Health Surveillance.
Source: ultimahora.com