Ailimpo slams official response to yellow chlorosis virus and apparent failure to uproot affected trees
Spanish lemon and grapefruit interprofessional association Ailimpo has expressed its “profound disappointment” with the response by the Murcian authorities to the discovery of citrus yellow vein chlorosis virus in the autonomous community. It says the regional Ministry of Agriculture has abandoned farmers by making them fully responsible for managing the crisis.
“The Regional Ministry has published in the Official Gazette of the Region the resolution declaring the presence of the virus after confirming five official positive cases [of the virus]. However, producers regret that no mandatory measures have been established for uprooting the affected plots, meaning farmers will not be able to access compensation,” Ailimpo said.
Comparing the ministry’s decision to that of the authorities in the neighbouring Valencian Community, where farmers will receive assistance from the state, Ailimpo’s president, Joaquín Rubio, called the Murcian government’s failure to act “irresponsible”.
Ailimpo said that unless the authorities mandate the mandatory uprooting and destruction of the trees affected by the virus it will spread uncontrollably. It estimates that it could cause losses of between 20 and 50 per cent of the crop.
Antonio Moreno, secretary of agriculture for UPA Murcia, backed calls for the uprooting of affected trees, insisting that this course of action is essential to prevent the disease from spreading. He warned of production losses of between 20 per cent and 40 per cent if the disease continues to spread.
