Technical Department

	Technical Department

Field work is of the essence

Fundecitrus works to provide healthy citriculture. Therefore, field activities are of the essence. Initially, government funds were allocated to the State of São Paulo for it to inspect plants infected by citrus canker and to eradicate sick trees.

The first Fundecitrus team of agronomists was hired in the beginning of the 1980's to monitor the inspections performed by employees of the Department of Agriculture of the State of São Paulo. At that time, Fundecitrus made an educational campaign directed to citrus producers.

An agreement signed by the government of the State of São Paulo in 1992, delegated the responsibility to Fundecitrus, for its employees to inspect the citrus plants that form the citrus region.

With the expansion of the territorial area of citrus cultivation, the Technical Department of Fundecitrus expanded its operating area and created adequate structures to meet the needs of the segment.

It covers an area of action consisting of 432 municipalities in the State of São Paulo and 17 in the State of Minas Gerais.

At present, diseases such as citrus canker, citrus variegated chlorosis and citrus sudden death (MSC), require a large and trained staff to combat them.

Fundecitrus Technical Department staff consists of 4 supervisors, 24 agronomists, 87 agriculture technicians and over 2,300 field inspectors, distributed in 14 Phytosanitary Support Centers (CAFs) and 42 Agriculture and Livestock Defense Regional Offices (EDAs).


	The Support Centers and EDAs were strategically distributed in the operating area, considering the number of existing citrus plants. The same rule is used regarding the number of inspectors.

Main actions of the Technical Department


		Citrus Canker Inspections
		Inspections are a constant and required activity to maintain healthy groves and nurseries. Groves, municipalities and regions are given priority according to technical criteria.

		Citrus Canker Sampling Survey
		Performed on an annual basis, during the months of March and April, to arrive at the estimates of disease occurrence. It is fundamental to direct the strategic actions for inspection.

		CVC Survey
		Currently, during the months prior to harvesting, a sampling survey covers the whole area of operations and portraits the disease's contamination rate.

		Citrus Sudden Death Survey
		With the emergence of the disease, it became a relevant field of action for the Technical Department. Studies concerning CSD occurrence and distribution were performed by Fundecitrus or by Fundecitrus in partnerships with other institutions.

		Sharpshooters Capture
		The insects captured on the field are transferred to the Scientific Department where studies are performed related to the mechanism of acquisition and transmission of the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium that causes CVC.

		Monitoring Ecdytolopha aurantiana ("bicho furão")
		Fundecitrus installs and read traps to capture the adult moth. Traps are substituted monthly and readings are performed on a weekly basis. The information so provided allows identifying the population fluctuation of the pest in different regions of the state and the appropriate moment to begin its control.

		Lectures, Courses and Training Programs
		The objective is to inform producers about major pests and diseases, and to train them and their employees to perform routine inspections in their groves.

		Technical Support
		The technical project in force establishes inspections every two months, for all the existing nurseries in the area covered by Fundecitrus actions.