Mexico assumed the commitment and willingness to work in a coordinated and close manner with the countries of Central America and the Caribbean to protect agricultural and livestock heritage and achieve a region free of pests and diseases.
This was expressed by the Secretary of Agriculture, Víctor Villalobos, upon assuming the presidency of the International Regional Committee for Agricultural Health (CIRSA), which integrates ministries of Agriculture from nine nations in Central America and the Caribbean and is the rector of the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health ( OIRSA).
This is the body that leads the application of quarantine or regulatory measures that promote the safeguarding of the region’s agricultural heritage.
In an extraordinary meeting of CIRSA, in Guadalajara, before ministers, vice ministers and representatives of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, the head of Agriculture and Rural Development, Víctor Villalobos, expressed:
“The introduction and proliferation of pests and diseases threaten the food security of the people and damage the environment, free trade and the development that benefits the producers of the region.”
For this reason, he called on the representatives of the countries present to channel efforts and work in coordination to combat the plague of the cattle screwworm and prevent its proliferation in the nine nations.
He asserted that quick and concrete actions are required to face the challenges and achieve better results. And reduce the threats posed by pests such as “fusarium” in bananas; the giant African snail and highly pathogenic avian influenza and African swine fever, among others.
Before the outgoing representative of CIRSA, Rafael Ortiz Quezada, the head of Agriculture, pointed out that in March, the National Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality Service (Senasica), trained Belizean technicians on identification, diagnosis and control of the screwworm. cattle.
The objective was to provide the tools and knowledge that prevent the spread of this pest in the neighboring country.
Preserving agricultural health, a priority of OIRSA
He affirmed that the preservation of agricultural health must be a priority on the governments’ agenda. It is a priority condition to continue strengthening regional trade.
He highlighted that one of the successful initiatives of OIRSA is the Mediterranean Fly program, which was launched in collaboration with the United States and Guatemala.
This allowed fruit and vegetable exports from these countries to enter the most demanding markets in the world.
“The challenge is to produce more and better food, despite the challenges faced by climate change, water scarcity and extreme temperatures.”
In turn, the executive director of OIRSA, Raúl Rodas, stated that the participation of ministers and secretaries of Agriculture from the nine countries seeks to promote this collaborative organization in favor of agriculture in the region.
He recalled that CIRSA was born 70 years ago to strengthen agricultural health, traceability, innovation and marketing actions, as well as promote strategic alliances with the private sector.
And combat pests and diseases such as the fruit fly and the giant African snail, through the collaboration of universities and research centers.
The Vice Minister of Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Rafael Ortiz Quezada expressed the satisfaction of having quick responses from the members on emerging health issues and the responsibility of the organization in strengthening its operational and technical arms.