72 hectares of banana plantations in Piura are infected by Foc-R4T

About 17.000 hectares planted with organic bananas in Piura region are at risk of the appearance of Fusarium Raza 4 Tropical (Foc-R4T), the fungus that affects the plant and has no cure, according to the National Agrarian Health Service (Senasa).

In the province of Sullana, they detected 72.55 hectares affected by the fungus. The areas were immediately contained to prevent dispersion, reported Josué Carrasco, Senasa's general director of Plant Health.

According to Carrasco, it is essential to implement restrictive measures against a fungus so little known in the world, so that it does not affect the regional and national banana production that develops on 170.000 hectares.

It is not known how the fungus appeared in Piura, but it is assumed that it arrived through the importation of illegal exotic plantations from abroad, or with the arrival of a foreign citizen.

From Senasa they reported that currently Piura is the only region in Peru with a report of Foc-R4T infection. To prevent the spread and loss of banana and plantain crops, monitoring work is carried out throughout the country.

The agency also urged farmers to follow the biosecurity protocol against the fungus, such as proper cleaning before and after entering vulnerable plantations.

Last week, Senasa personnel began control work at 6 verification points in the producing areas in the province of Sullana.

Thanks to the operation of these centers, it was possible to disinfect 22.724 vehicles, as well as inspect 2.358 trucks to detect the mobilization of vegetative material.