Costa Rica Faces Banana Emergency With Mealybugs Outbreak – New Tang Dynasty Television

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Fri 2013-Dec-13

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New Tang Dynasty Television

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Pests/diseases

Text (summary):

Costa Rica calls a “national emergency” as a double plague of insects infects vast swathes of the Central American country’s banana plantations. (TOMAS STARGARDTER/AFP/Getty Images)

A local Costa Rican merchant loads free bananas onto his truck after they were categorized as unfit for export at a packing station in Guapiles on the Atlantic Coast of Costa Rica. (TOMAS STARGARDTER/AFP/Getty Images)

Authorities in Costa Rica have declared a “national emergency” for one of Costa Rica’s most important agricultural exports, as a double plague of insects threatens banana exports from the Central American nation.

An outbreak of mealybugs and scale insects has quickly infected swathes of banana plantations across the country, with some 24,000 hectares of banana plants reportedly infected.

Agricultural engineer Eric Bolanos said the insects extract nutrients from banana plants, leaving them weak and causing dark stains on the fruit.

“Basically, what it does is suck out the nutrients, or sap from the plant’s organs, stems, leaves. It could reach the fruit, causing damage (like) dark stains,” he added.

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www.ntd.tv [English

Locations
Location Coordinates Zoom Relevance Show on map
Costa Rica, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil 23.4167°S 54.65°W 0.823
Guápiles, Costa Rica 10.2159°N 83.7866°W 0.152
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URL:

http://www.ntd.tv/en/news/world/south-america/20131213/83871-costa-rica-faces-banana-emergency-with-…

Original language:

English

Original title:

Costa Rica Faces Banana Emergency With Mealybugs Outbreak – New Tang Dynasty Television

Original text (summary):

Costa Rica calls a “national emergency” as a double plague of insects infects vast swathes of the Central American country’s banana plantations. (TOMAS STARGARDTER/AFP/Getty Images)

A local Costa Rican merchant loads free bananas onto his truck after they were categorized as unfit for export at a packing station in Guapiles on the Atlantic Coast of Costa Rica. (TOMAS STARGARDTER/AFP/Getty Images)

Authorities in Costa Rica have declared a “national emergency” for one of Costa Rica’s most important agricultural exports, as a double plague of insects threatens banana exports from the Central American nation.

An outbreak of mealybugs and scale insects has quickly infected swathes of banana plantations across the country, with some 24,000 hectares of banana plants reportedly infected.

Agricultural engineer Eric Bolanos said the insects extract nutrients from banana plants, leaving them weak and causing dark stains on the fruit.

“Basically, what it does is suck out the nutrients, or sap from the plant’s organs, stems, leaves. It could reach the fruit, causing damage (like) dark stains,” he added.