Peru issues agchems for coffee rust outbreak

The Peruvian authorities are distributing pesticides and other inputs to combat coffee yellow rust ( Hemileia vastratrix) on coffee crops in the country. The government has declared a state of emergency for coffee plantations across the country due to the spread of the disease. The Ministry of Agriculture is investing some 100 million new sols ($37.5 million at the current rate). The delivery of pesticides and fertilisers is part of a short-term plan to reduce the incidence of the disease for the present season. The products will be distributed through regional authorities. Government Ministers have recently met with some calling for additional measures to be adopted. Some 380,000 ha of coffee is planted with traditional methods, and a further 90,000 ha are cultivated organically.