After the phytosanitary surveillance system of Pruvian SENASA detected a suspected case of Fusarium Tropical Race 4, the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation began the immediate execution of phytosanitary measures to control the outbreak and thus protect the national production of bananas and plantains. that extends in the national territory, with an area of ​​170,000 hectares.

The results of the samples evaluated at the SENASA Plant Health Diagnosis Center confirm the presence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Race 4 Tropical (Foc TR4), on a 0.5 hectare plot, located in the district of Querecotillo, in the province of Sullana, department of Piura.

Through Chief Resolution No. 0048-2021-MIDAGRI-SENASA, published in the Official Gazette El Peruano, the entire national territory has been declared in a state of phytosanitary emergency, in order to prevent the spread of this pest to other production areas of the country, for which very strict phytosanitary measures are being implemented, such as restriction of entry to the plot where the outbreak has been detected, the elimination of plants from the plot, training of farmers, surveillance actions in other areas of banana production; to name the most important ones.

The actions that SENASA has been executing and will carry out are covered by the current national regulatory framework, such as Legislative Decree No. 1387, the General Law of Agrarian Health and their respective regulations; all this, with the purpose of safeguarding national production and protecting the plantain and banana agricultural area in Piura (16,937 hectares) and at the national level.

Since 2012, SENASA has been carrying out preventive actions, with the implementation of more than one molecular biology diagnostic method, training of laboratory personnel; as well as our field staff at the national level, through drills and training with experts at the international level.

In addition to this, we have the presence of the international expert on the subject, Dr. Miguel Dita, Senior Scientist of the Bioversity International Alliance and CIAT, who together with the SENASA technical team has been contributing in the process of control and eradication of the outbreak, based on international procedures and protocols.

SENASA has been working in a comprehensive and sustainable way with the National Banana Board and the Regional Banana Technical Board. Faced with this situation, coordination has been strengthened so that more than 9,500 producers in Piura, as well as in other producing regions, continue with the implementation of adequate biosecurity measures and contribute to the health of their crops.

This joint work will allow agro-exports to remain at the expected levels. Currently, plantain and banana production is destined for 20 international markets, registering export volumes of 129,244 tons of bananas and 4,395 tons of bananas, during 2020.

The Fusarium oxisporum pest is a pest that exclusively affects plants and Fusarium oxisporum f. sp. cubense Race 4 Tropical (Foc R4T) is a specific pest that affects plantain and banana plantations, and does not affect human health; reason for which, the population can continue feeding on these fruits without any fear.

Foc TR4, is a pest that is not capable of spreading through the fruit; For this reason, importing countries cannot take restrictive phytosanitary measures on imports of plantains or bananas from Peru, a situation that is important to be clear about.

Foc TR4, is a pest that can decimate the Peruvian production, so it is recommended that the producers of this fruit take all preventive measures to prevent this pest from entering their orchards; For this, it is essential to comply with the technical recommendations of SENASA.