Nurseries Department

	Nurseries Department

Groves sanity begins in the nursery

Every year, trees are eradicated because of diseases and pests (CVC, citrus canker and other diseases).

It is known that the best form to avoid nursery tree contamination is plant production in screened nurseries. To use healthy nursery trees is the first step to form a healthy and productive complex for the future. The nurseries must comply with all technical production standards and must be submitted to constant inspections by official entities.

Technology employed to form healthy nursery trees in screened nurseries is the guarantee of healthy products.

	A protected environment is the legal regulation


	The publication of stricter legal regulations for the production of citrus nursery trees is in force since 1999 by the Department of Agriculture and Food Supply of the State of São Paulo.

	With the appearance of citrus sudden death, concern with those measures increased to ensure the citrus complex sanity. The purpose is to make compulsory the application of more modern and effective technology.


	Regulations (Directive - CDA 5 of February 2, 2005)

	Nursery trees and rootstocks must be produced mandatorily in screened environments;

	The Department of Agriculture and Food Supply of the State of São Paulo registers screened nurseries only;

	The use of mesh screens with openings of maximum 0.87mm x 0.30mm, for nurseries and for nursery trees transportation is mandatory;

	Nursery trees produced in other States, intended for plantations of the State of São Paulo must mandatorily contain permission to be moved or transferred, issued by the entity of Vegetal Sanitary Defense of the State of Origin and Entry Authorization, issued by the Agricultural Defense Coordination - CDA;

	Penalties include from prohibition to commercialize nursery trees up to their seizure and destruction, and respective fines.

	Fundecitrus contributes to the sanity of nursery trees

	The use of healthy nursery trees is one of the conditions to avoid the dissemination of pests and diseases, therefore, Fundecitrus is carrying out an additional responsibility in relation to citriculture's sanity: to promote the production of healthy nursery trees.

	It provides training to citrus nurserymen / nurserywomen and producers on the appropriate technology for the production of nursery trees, and assists authorities in preparing specific regulations for the nurseries.

	It made citrus producers aware that it is worthwhile to plant or replant groves with quality nursery trees, taking into consideration its phytosanity and savings. This activity increased the demand for certified nursery trees, which is an additional victory for Fundecitrus.

	Since 1997, Fundecitrus promotes nursery quality surveys, for those nurseries within the citrus region, and the sanitary conditions in which the nursery trees are produced.

	Each nursery within its area of action undergoes strict inspection every two months, performed by a specific team to ensure the nursery trees sanity. Those inspections serve also as a basis for a series of actions and technical guidance by Fundecitrus, as lectures, training programs and guidance do citrus producers.

	This work has already prevented, for example, that nursery trees contaminated with citrus canker arrived at the field, where they would disseminate the disease.