Authorities from the federal Ministry of Agriculture and the state Ministry of Agriculture reported that they have strengthened the phytosanitary campaign to combat the grasshopper infestation affecting bean and corn farmers on plots in between 7, 9, and 12 municipalities. This is due to disagreement among government institutions regarding the geographic extent of the insect pest in the state of Zacatecas.
Through various statements, they have reported, among other actions, that the fight against the unusual insect pest is being carried out in coordination with the Zacatecas State Plant Health Committee “and with producers in the region. phytosanitary specialists from Senasica have formed brigades for control, training, technical assistance, and support, with the aim of preventing damage to corn and bean crops.”
The grasshopper control brigades, using the insecticide Malathion, are primarily deployed in the municipalities with the highest concentration of grasshoppers: Villanueva, Guadalupe, Fresnillo, Jerez, Jiménez del Teúl, Valparaíso, and Genaro Codina.
The Ministry of Agriculture reported that, through the National Service of Health, Safety, and Agrifood Quality (Senasica), “it has been implementing strategic actions since June 30 to promptly address grasshopper outbreaks in seven municipalities of Zacatecas.”
It also indicated that “to strengthen pest management, Senasica began technical and supervisory visits on August 4 in municipalities with reports of grasshoppers, verifying the correct application of phytosanitary measures.”
The federal government has channeled resources from the contingency fund of the Phytosanitary Management of Basic Crops Project, amounting to approximately 500,000 pesos, with which “essential supplies were purchased to combat the pest and strategic protection actions were implemented in priority municipalities for corn and bean production.”
However, the grasshopper infestation, revealed Gerardo Cervantes Viramontes, head of the Zacatecas Rural Secretariat, was reported by farmers in several regions of the state, and has not been combated since June 31st, meaning throughout the entire month of July. Furthermore, the official assured La Jornada that 12 municipalities are affected by the pest.
And this Friday, the government of David Monreal Ávila officially issued its own press release, announcing that it is taking “key actions to contain the proliferation of grasshoppers and minimize their impact on staple crops, through a solid, scientific, and preventative system that responds to current and future plant health challenges” due to the “grasshopper infestation in nine municipalities.”
“In coordination, the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Committee for Plant Health of Zacatecas are providing training to producers, as well as forming brigades to provide assistance and follow-up in affected areas. To date, 1,818 farmers have been assisted, covering 12,732 hectares of farmland.”
The Zacatecas government added in its statement that “following various reports from producers, both agencies have begun controlling the contingency through training for farmers in the municipalities where grasshoppers are affecting farmland. In the state, the most common grasshopper species are Brachystola Mexicana and Brachystola magna.”
Source: jornada
