sign in sign up
<<
Home , Citrus, Citrus greening disease, Citrus production, The Citrus Industry

Subregional Office for the Caribbean ISSUE BRIEF

#4 Managing Huanglongbing/ Greening Disease in the Caribbean October 2013

Key facts

XX Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) or , caused by a bacterium (Candidatus asiaticus).

XX HLB is one of the most serious and devastating of all the diseases affecting citrus. Globally, HLB has destroyed more than 100 million .

XX In the Caribbean, Jamaica and have been severely affected by the disease. FAO projects were implemented in both countries in 2011-2013 and have had some success in salvaging trees and increasing yields. Transboundary movement of diseases has always existed, presenting a constant threat and, in some instances, causing devastation to entire industries. But in an XX A regional project for increasingly globalized world with greater and more rapid flow of people and goods America and the Caribbean across borders, prevention of transboundary movement of diseases has become far was launched in November more difficult and requires the coordinated intervention of all stakeholders on national, 2012 and is establishing: regional and even international levels. –– Standard Operating Procedures to One industry of great importance to several Latin American and Caribbean countries communicate risks, surveillance, is currently facing a potentially devastating disease. The regional citrus industry diagnostics and management provides products such as fresh limes, , oranges, , and other citrus as well concentrates and , contributing both to domestic –– a Regional Information and security as well as to foreign exchange earning via exports. The emerging Communication System threat comes in the form of Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) or Citrus Greening Disease, caused by a bacterium (Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus). –– networking mechanisms among subregional plant health agencies HLB is one of the most serious and devastating of all the diseases affecting citrus. It is estimated that globally HLB has destroyed more than 100 million trees and –– a proposal for a regional has spread to several continents including the Americas. Its high socio-economic programme on plant health impact is linked to the fact that all of citrus are affected and there is no and management of emerging known cure. cross-border diseases

The disease is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), citri Kuwayama, –– a panel of experts a tiny insect about 4 mm long, which feeds on the of citrus trees. When the ACP feeds on an infected for about 30 minutes, it can pick up the bacterium, 1 carrying it for many days and transferring It takes 6-8 for citrus trees to reach in both countries and subsequently, it when feeding on an uninfected . peak production levels. The disease requests were made to FAO for technical This bacterium blocks the phloem and tends to target younger trees, making assistance to fill critical gaps. prevents the flow of nutrients, causing it difficult for growers to quickly replace loss of leaves, deformation of that have been lost. In many Jamaica which can become bitter and hard, cases, farmers switch to the cultivation early drop and the eventual death of other in order to salvage their is of vital of the tree. infected plant tissue livelihoods, rather than engage in the importance to Jamaica’s economy onto a healthy plant can also spread the costly and time consuming programme in terms of employment, exports and disease. of management required to revive their local production. The total value of orchards. The reduction and loss in citrus the industry is estimated at US$40 Management of the disease is production directly affects employment million, generating employment for compounded by the ubiquitous presence in the field and along the entire value approximately 19 500 persons at of citrus trees across the region, not only chain. Although to date there is no data the industry level (including on-farm on commercial orchards, but also in on social impact, preliminary estimates operations, processing, packaging backyards as a household fruit and in the case of indicate that, in the plant, wholesale and trades). Citrus as a particularly favoured ornamental absence of preventative action, direct yields have fluctuated over the last plant, paniculata or employment would be reduced by 14% several years largely due to the effect jasmine (a host for both the ACP and HLB), within 3 years and 39% within 5 years of of (CTV), adverse wherein subtle changes in the health of HLB taking hold. weather conditions, poor management the trees may go unnoticed. Symptoms practices, an ageing farming community may not begin to show until a or Management of the disease may also and declining acreages. With the more after the tree has been infected, by bring with it a detrimental effect on industry in the midst of the steady which time several or all neighbouring the environment associated with the march to recovery following the mass trees may have become infected. disposal and burning of millions of replanting of trees between 5–15 years trees. Alternately, the intensive use of ago, the encroachment of HLB was a Impact pesticides can cause pollution of soils, source of grave concern. ground water resources and air, and Fruits affected by HLB lose their affect biodiversity. The TCP project, TCP/JAM/3302 commercial value. Along with the – Assistance to manage Citrus direct economic impact of losses in National projects Greening in Jamaica, was approved yield, volume and value of production, in October 2011 and implemented management of the disease is very Jamaica and Belize are two countries of between January 2011 and January costly. Estimates from , where HLB the Caribbean where the citrus industry 2013 in conjunction with the Ministry of was first discovered in 2004, place costs is socially and economically important Agriculture and Fisheries (MOAF), and at approximately US$403 per hectare, and where HLB was discovered in in close collaboration with the Jamaica too high for small and medium-sized 2009. National programmes for the Citrus Protection Agency (a national producers in the Caribbean to bear. management of HLB were initiated body with the mandate to regulate citrus nurseries in the country), and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). The project resulted in:

XX an assessment of available HLB management options and methods suited to the Jamaican context and the determination of appropriate implementation mechanisms;

XX development and implementation of an Area-wide Integrated Management Strategy (AIMS), to facilitate a cooperative approach to HLB management by geographically connected farmers;

XX Training of Trainers (ToT) in HLB management and record keeping. Area-wide management strategies for the psyllid and HLB were implemented and reviewed

2 A total of 97 persons were trained under this component - Free of ACP and/or HLB ACP is present HLB is present 57 Extension Officers of RADA, 27 farmer leaders/key farmers, one nursery operator and one ‣‣ Launch public awareness ‣‣ Develop a National ‣‣ Reduce the vector Plant Quarantine Officer; and surveillance Action Plan for ACP psyllid through the campaigns. management to include: introduction of biological XX improved national capability for control to slow the rate diagnosis and detection of HLB, ‣‣ Train technical staff –– surveys / surveillance of spread of HLB. through structural renovation and in the identification activities to detect equipping of laboratory facilities of ACP and HLB. presence / spread ‣‣ Lengthen the life and and training of eight technicians of ACP (and HLB) productivity of the in disease management. ‣‣ Limit / eliminate trees through improved Participants were drawn from importation of –– introduction of nutrition and weed / the Scientific Research Council citrus plants. biological control grove management. (SRC), MOAF’s Research and - the parasitoid Development Division, the ‣‣ Develop a Rapid (if Jamaica Citrus Protection Response Plan, in the not already present) Agency (JCPA) and Trade Winds event that ACP (and Ltd (the largest private citrus HLB) are detected. producer and processor); Differentiated management approaches based on disease status

XX increased capacity to produce disease-free planting material Belize and materials for providing through the establishment of HLB testing service to a screen house for bud-wood The citrus industry is very important farmers and growers; production and an insect-proof to the economy of Belize in terms demonstration nursery; training of employment, livelihood of rural XX identification of crop of 20 nursery operators in new communities, exports and local diversification opportunities for nursery management protocols; production. It is estimated that the former citrus growers and a training of 11 technicians and total value of the industry to the Belize review of institutional support officers to introduce new shoot- economy is approximately US$50 required for displaced farmers; tip/micro-grafting techniques million. Employment at the industry for the elimination of graft- level is estimated at 10 000 persons. XX recommendations for sustainable transmissible pathogens of citrus; Like Jamaica, Belize went through the funding mechanisms for process of replanting citrus groves to nursery certification and XX development of a public combat CTV in the mid-2000s. HLB control programmes; awareness campaign including support to produce training The project, TCP/BZE/3402 - XX improvement of public materials, information pamphlets Assistance to manage Huanglongbing awareness and grower and posters on symptomology in Belize, was approved in February , including posters and management, as well 2012 and its implementation is well and brochures for farmers as a training video on HLB underway. It has achieved several and three training videos. and its management. positive outcomes including a better protected citrus industry through: A regional approach At a project review held in January 2013, several farmers indicated that XX establishment of an Area-wide Early in 2011, FAO developed a project, by following the practices highlighted Management Programme TCP/RLA/3304 - Building regional throughout the project, they were including support for a biological and national capacities to address the rewarded with higher quantity yields control programme (using sustainable and efficient management and better quality fruit. A detailed parasitoids and indigenous of Huanglongbing, as a starting point sustainability plan for management of entomopathogens) as well as to determine the status of HLB in the the disease (prepared in collaboration the review of nursery protocols region. This project has subsequently with FAO and partner organizations) was and training for nursery owners; informed a joint action strategy to allow presented by the MOAF and endorsed countries to reduce and prevent the by all participating stakeholders, XX strengthening of HLB diagnostic spread of the disease. who gave their full commitment capacity of the government- to help build on the project gains. appointed laboratory through Under the project, a Regional provision of key equipment Consultation on HLB was held in

3 June 2011, which reported that the CAN (Andean countries) and OIRSA The way forward disease was found in 10 countries in (Central America). the region (Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Next steps in the efforts to manage this Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, The regional strategy revolves around the disease include Mexico, Nicaragua and the Dominican implementation of a series of integrated, Republic), while the ACP was found in 19 synchronized and coordinated XX ensuring the prevention countries. Thus, even though countries measures and actions aimed at reducing management knowledge could be classified as “disease-free”, the burden of inoculum sources in an gained is widely disseminated they still provided sources of potential effective and timely , reducing the and practised; infection for neighbouring territories. infective psyllid population in affected As governments prepared to face this geographic areas, and reducing the XX finalizing the development situation a number of weaknesses were risk of infestation by external psyllid of a regional information and noted, namely populations migrating from an infested communication platform; geographic area to an uninfested area. XX insufficient technical and Complementary strategic components XX concluding and promoting institutional capacities were identified including: the Standard Operating for disease control; Procedures agreed by a XX Standard Operating Procedures panel of HLB experts; XX absence of a system for (SOPs) to communicate risks, risk communication; surveillance, diagnostics XX responding to requests for and management, based specific assistance from XX lack of harmonized standards; on Pest Risk Assessment Caribbean countries (Antigua and (PRA), as well as a proposal Barbuda, Barbados, Saint Kitts XX lack of knowledge and for PRA specific to HLB; and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the application of the most Grenadines and the Bahamas) appropriate management XX Regional Information and to develop an appropriate measures; Communication System for national Action Plans. early warning, surveillance, XX absence of a specific diagnosis of technical capacities The trees currently affected by HLB institutional structure with the and proposals for national/ will succumb over the next few years. necessary financial resources sub-regional action plans; Unavoidably, some farmers will opt to manage the disease. out of . It is therefore XX establishment of a Panel of important to guide them towards FAO was given the mandate to provide regional HLB experts; alternative livelihood options. the necessary coordination for the management of Citrus Greening XX networking mechanisms among For those farmers who remain, the Disease at the hemispheric level. subregional Plant Health continued viability of the citrus industry Subsequently a project, TCP/RLA/3401 Agencies with regard to HLB and will depend on extensive replanting - Technical Assistance for the regional establishment of a permanent of trees using certified disease-free management of Huanglongbing (HLB) Consultative Committee on HLB planting material. Concurrently psyllid in Latin America and the Caribbean, populations must be effectively managed from the Regional Office XX a proposal for a regional managed. in Chile, commenced in November program on plant health and 2012, with the endorsement of regional management of emerging organizations: CARICOM (Caribbean cross-border diseases based Community), COSAVE (South America), on the experience of HLB.

For further information contact: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Tel: +1 246 426-7110 Subregional Office for the Caribbean Fax: +1 246 427-6075 Second Floor, United Nations House Email: [email protected] Marine Gardens, Christ Church Website: www.fao.org BB11000 Barbados Listserv: [email protected] 4