The Ministry of Agriculture from the Dominican Republic has stated it has adopted a series of preventive measures to protect local banana production from a dangerous fungus that affects countries in the region.
This means it has suspended the importation of roots, tubers, rhizomes, or corms and planting material of Musaceae from countries affected by the Fusarium Foc TR4 fungus disease, to prevent entry and spread in Dominican territories.
Given the presence in Colombia and - recently - in Peru of the Fusarium TR4 fungus, which causes the Banana Wilt disease, phytosanitary surveillance in ports, airports, border posts and farms has been intensified.
According to dominicantoday.com¸ the Ministry of Agriculture also suspended imports of rhizomes of ginger and turmeric, potato tubers and musacea plants. Other measures that will come into force in the coming days are the circulation of warning statements in rural areas, on farms, at border posts, ports and airports.