Strengthening Paraguay's Phytosanitary Control System with FAO and IPPC Cooperation

Asunción, February 20, 2024 – Servicio Nacional de Calidad y Sanidad Vegetal y de Semillas (SENAVE) of Paraguay, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Comité de Sanidad Vegetal del Cono Sur (COSAVE), with support from the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat, organized training sessions and a simulation exercise to address the treat of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (Fusarium TR4), in response to the regional threat to banana crops.

The event took place in the localities of J. Eulogio Estigarribia and Tembiaporâ, in the Caaguazú department, on Monday 10 – Tuesday 11 of February 2024, with the participation of national technical professionals and experts from several countries within the region.

During the event, representatives from the national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) that make up COSAVE exchanged experiences regarding the management and control of this disease, given the serious threat it poses to banana crops in Paraguay and across the region.

It is important to highlight that Fusarium TR4 has not yet entered or been detected in Paraguay. However, since it is a disease that has the potential to have devasting effects on banana plantations, SENAVE deemed it appropriate to carry out this training activity.

“This simulation exercise conducted by SENAVE and FAO is very important because we must be prepared for any potential plant pest outbreak,” emphasized Miguel Cañete, a banana producer from Tembiaporâ, whose farm was used for the field exercise.

“Whenever we talk about public policies aimed at preventing a particular problem, that is the best strategy,” stated SENAVE President Pastor Emilio Soria Melo. “Carrying out this type of work also demonstrates our commitment as Paraguayan technical experts, in an institution like SENAVE, whose vision is precisely to prevent the entry of plant pests or diseases; and if there is a pest outbreak, to find ways to minimize its impact on the sector’s development and economic stability,” he added.

FAO Representative in Paraguay, Iván Felipe León Ayala, highlighted the growth of Paraguay’s banana production and the importance of safeguarding all aspects to ensure its continued expansion. “Today, 135 countries worldwide produce plantains and bananas; we are talking about more than half the planet. If we compare agricultural census data from 2008 to 2022, bananas may be the fastest-growing crop in Paraguay,” he noted. “Over $40 million is exported annually, with 16,000 hectares under cultivation—growth is significant. Which is it is crucial for us to engage in this type of exercise,” he added.

FAO's technical cooperation to improve Paraguay’s phytosanitary system is part of project TCP/RLA/4007, aimed at strengthening capacities for the prevention and containment of Fusarium TR4 in musaceae crops across South American countries.

“We conducted this regional simulation in Paraguay for COSAVE countries as part of the broader strategy being developed in Latin America to prepare for and contain Fusarium Wilt caused by Tropical Race 4,” explained Raixa Llauger, FAO Mesoamerica Agriculture Officer, who traveled to Paraguay for the training sessions.

Meanwhile, Jaime Cárdenas, FAO Mesoamerica Plant Health Specialist, noted that during the exercise, experts focused on identifying typical symptoms, surveillance processes—including the use of artificial intelligence tools—and protocols for eradicating an outbreak using essential biosecurity measures.

The training sessions were led by Raixa Llauger and Jaime Cárdenas, along with Sarah Brunel from the Implementation and Facilitation Unit of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC); Mónica Gallo, General Coordinator of Plant Health at Agrocalidad (Ecuador); Antonio González, Director of Technical Services at Grupo Agrovid (Colombia); and Mónica Betancourt, Principal Researcher at Agrosavia (Colombia).

Following an initial day of training and experience-sharing through presentations, specialists traveled to production areas in Tembiaporã, where they conducted field exercises focused on Fusarium TR4 management. The objective was to acquire knowledge and strengthen the technical and response capabilities of phytosanitary organizations. The practical sessions included instructions on: surveillance protocols, sampling procedures and biosecurity measures and eradication strategies in affected sites.

To find out more about this event please watch this video (in Spanish):

Originally posted by FAO Paraguay: https://www.fao.org/paraguay/noticias/detail-events/es/c/1733719/