The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (Sagarpa) declared three municipalities in the State of Mexico and four in Michoacán as free of the avocado seed borer pest.
The municipalities that are free of the pest are: Morelia, Zitacuaro, Tzintzuntzan, and Villa Morelos in Michoacan; and the Agroecological Area of Miahuatlan, Loma-Cruz de Piedra, and Cruz Verde-Los Berros Cuentla, in Ixtapan del Oro, Coatepec Harinas and San Simón de Guerrero, respectively.
This measure eliminates the phytosanitary restrictions that the avocado produced in the regions affected by the aforementioned pests have, including the national mobilization and export restrictions, according to a statement from the agency.
The National Health, Safety and Agricultural Food Quality Service (Senasica) stated that this measure would positively impact 1,317 producers of both entities.
These producers can now transport their goods without the need of a Phytosanitary Certificate of National Mobilization. They will also have the possibility of exporting their products and obtaining better prices for their product in the national and international markets, they added.
The State of Mexico has seven agro-ecological areas with 5,160 hectares, and Michoacan has 40 municipalities, with 145,590 hectares, that are free of the avocado seed borer.
Michoacan is the leading producer of avocado in Mexico, with 160,000 hectares and a production of almost 1.6 million tons. The State of Mexico ranks third, with 9,946 hectares and a production of almost 103,297 tons.
Source: eleconomista.com.mx