Chile’s Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) made a special appeal to kiwifruit growers on Tuesday, asking producers in regions still unaffected by disease Psa to take precautionary measures.

Photo: Chile’s Agriculture and Livestock Service

SAG and the Chilean Kiwifruit Committee met this week to discuss the disease that has affected 30 orchards in the Maule and Biobío regions and impacted 3,000 hectares (Ha) of the nation's 12,000 Ha total of kiwifruit production.

The meeting paid particular attention to keeping Psa out of new areas and avoiding injury to the US$200 million a year industry.

The service asked growers to make a prevention plan to control plant material movement, worker transportation and tool disinfection.

Since Psa does not have a cure, caution and prevention are key. Once Psa has been detected, the only option is to uproot and quarantine the plant.

In 2011, SAG declared Psa a plague under official watch. Part of the the SAG resolution is to disperse material on preventative measures, promote activities and trainings, and establish methods of control.

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