La Unió Llauradora has identified the presence of the South African thrips in the Camp de Morvedre region, thus confirming its expansion in several regions of the Valencian Community, including Vega Baja, Safor, La Ribera and Plana Baixa. This pest is causing significant damage to crops such as citrus, persimmons and pomegranate trees, which has led the organisation to request urgent measures from the Regional Ministry of Agriculture.
To combat this threat, LA UNIÓ has proposed the free distribution of yellow chromotropic sticky traps, which would help to detect the presence of the South African thrips early on plots of land. This measure aims to support the agricultural sector, reduce production costs and improve the control strategy, especially during the months of February and March, when early detection is crucial to minimise crop damage.
LA UNIÓ has also urged the Regional Ministry to act quickly to distribute these resources and has pointed out the need to improve import and monitoring protocols to prevent the entry of new pests. The organisation blames the European Commission for the negligence that has allowed the entry of this pest, demanding greater protection for affected farmers.
For more information, see the original article.
