COSTA RICA: Costa Rica calls a "national emergency" as a double plague of insects infects vast swathes of the country's banana plantations

Record ID: 564810

  • Title: COSTA RICA: Costa Rica calls a "national emergency" as a double plague of insects infects vast swathes of the country's banana plantations
  • Date: 13th December 2013
  • Summary: PUERTO LIMON, COSTA RICA (DECEMBER 13, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BANANA PLANTATION VARIOUS OF BANANAS ON PROCESSING MACHINE AT PLANTATION AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER ERIC BOLANOS EXPLAINING EFFECTS OF INFECTIONS ON BANANAS VARIOUS OF INFECTED PLANT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER, ERIC BOLANOS, SAYING: "Basically, what it does is suck out the nutrients, or sap from the plant's organs, stems, leaves. It could reach the fruit, causing damage (like) dark stains." SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA (DECEMBER 13, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF COSTA RICA'S PHYTOSANITARY SERVICE VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR OF COSTA RICA'S PHYTOSANITARY SERVICE, MAGDA GONZALEZ, IN OFFICE DIRECTOR OF COSTA RICA'S PHYTOSANITARY SERVICE, MAGDA GONZALEZ, SAYING: "At the moment, the problem that we have is that the two plagues are distributed practically across the entire (agricultural) sector where there is banana. That's one thing. This started as a little point in La Estrella Valley and from there they dispersed towards other areas. At the moment, it's said that suppliers could reject 20% of the fruit." PUERTO LIMON, COSTA RICA (DECEMBER 13, 2013) (REUTERS) MAN CLEANING BANANAS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WORKING AT BANANA PROCESSING AREA
  • Embargoed: 28th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Costa Rica
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Topics: Disasters,Environment,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAWHU4M35RJ93DLQCCWZHLA1Z8
  • Story Text: Authorities in Costa Rica have declared a "national emergency" for one of Costa Rica's most important agricultural exports, as a double plague of insects threatens banana exports from the Central American nation.
    An outbreak of mealybugs and scale insects has quickly infected swathes of banana plantations across the country, with some 24,000 hectares of banana plants reportedly infected.
    Agricultural engineer Eric Bolanos said the insects extract nutrients from banana plants, leaving them weak and causing dark stains on the fruit.
    "Basically, what it does is suck out the nutrients, or sap from the plant's organs, stems, leaves. It could reach the fruit, causing damage (like) dark stains," he added.
    Some experts have blamed climate change, with warmer temperatures and changing rain patterns, for the explosion in the bug population.
    Magda Gonzalez from Costa Rica's Phytosanitary Service told Reuters up to 20 percent of Costa Rica's banana crop could be affected.
    "At the moment, the problem that we have is that the two plagues are distributed practically across the entire (agricultural) sector where there is banana. That's one thing. This started as a little point in La Estrella Valley and from there they dispersed towards other areas. At the moment, it's said that suppliers could reject 20% of the fruit," she said.
    Looking to mitigate the effects of the insects, authorities have allowed for banana producers to wrap their fruit in bags laced with pesticide.
    According to trade officials, Costa Rica is one of the world's largest banana exporters with more than half a billion dollars worth of the fruit crop exported abroad over ten months.
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