Sustainable control of vector of HLB in Family Farming

Executive Summary

HLB (Huanglongbing) is the most destructive citrus disease in the world caused by a bacterium (Candidatus Liberibacter spp.). The disease's dispersal dynamics respond to the movement of diseased plant material and the presence of the vector (Diaphorina citri) as a dissemination agent. As there is no cure so far, prevention is based on the use of healthy material, constant monitoring of the crop and the insect vector, its control and early identification of the infected plant and its elimination.

The insect vector is present in the four countries of the project platform, and the disease has been detected since 2012 in Argentina, 2013 in Paraguay and in December 2022 in Uruguay. In Bolivia there is still no record of the disease, but the vector is present. Regarding the management of the HLB-vector complex, the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is being promoted; however, pest and disease control by calendar is still prevalent in the sector in general and in the family farming (FF) in particular, through routine applications of non-selective agrochemicals that generate risks and damage to the environment, beneficial entomofauna, operators, producer families and the population in general.

In this regard, from September 2019 to March 2024, it was proposed to adapt, disseminate and raise awareness of IPM technology in the control of the citrus HLB vector in family farming (FF).

The project was organized into four components:

1. Control of the HLB vector in a context of local adaptation of integrated management, through the installation of 17 demonstration (DL) of IPM and conventional (CL) lots in family producer establishments.

2. Training farmers and other technicians (including training of new certified monitors), communication and raising social awareness.

3. Monitoring of sustainability, quality and economic analysis in DL and CL.

4. Collective management of innovation.

Project platform. Executor: INTA/Fundación ArgenINTA (Argentina). Co-executors: INIA (Uruguay), FaCAF UNI/FundUNI (Paraguay), Autonomous Municipal Government of Bermejo (Bolivia). Partners: SENASA and FEDERCITRUS of Argentina and UPEFRUY of Uruguay.

Team: 103 researchers, extensionists and communicators.

The technological solution

• Local adaptation of integrated pest management (IPM) technology in family citrus farming (FF) with a focus on the control of the HLB vector, through the application of monitoring practices, the use of safe products that preserve the natural balance and the use of bioinputs in IPM demonstration plots in family citrus farms.
• Train, communicate and raise awareness among family growers, professionals and other stakeholders in the citrus sector about HLB, the vector and its natural enemies.
• Monitor the impact of IPM on the sustainability, fruit quality and economic situation of the AF in order to contribute to the innovation process.
• Promotion of collective innovation management to achieve the scaling up of the technological proposal (participatory work with beneficiaries in the selection of demonstration plots, progress and results of the project).

Results

Beneficiaries

The direct beneficiaries of the Project were: more than 22,900 family farmers (FF) and other types of producers, students, technicians, professionals, institutional referents were reached by the project. Among them, more than 3400 people were trained and participated in workshops, most of whom were AF, more than 15,300 people were informed and made aware of HLB and the vector, 4000 printed manuals were delivered in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia.

Indirect beneficiaries were another 3000 family growers, the citrus sector as a whole and consumers in the four countries.

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

Dissemination products