A team of 22 Agricultural Extension agents from the Cabildo is working to control phylloxera in Tenerife
The councillor for the Primary Sector, Valentín González, emphasises “the crucial work of these technicians, whose efforts ensure compliance with the Government of the Canary Islands’ order regarding the transportation of grapes during the harvest”
A team of 22 technicians from the 10 Agricultural Extension Agencies in Tenerife has conducted 120 inspections of phylloxera-free farms during the first days of this week. This follows an order issued by the Government of the Canary Islands, outlining measures to prevent the spread of this pest, which was detected at the end of July in the vineyards of a semi-abandoned farm in Valle de Guerra.
The councillor for the Primary Sector, Valentín González, has highlighted “the fundamental work of our Agricultural Extension agents, whose efforts focus on making the inspection process as smooth as possible for grape growers, so they can obtain transportation authorisations without delay.”
González stresses that “the fieldwork undertaken by Agricultural Extension agents across the island is vital in preventing the spread of phylloxera” and urges farmers and the Regulatory Councils to “notify the Agencies well in advance of the harvest, enabling us to plan appropriately for implementing the order on phylloxera control and eradication.”
The Cabildo of Tenerife and the Government of the Canary Islands have developed a technical inspection protocol, which outlines how to sample vineyards in the field, focusing on the symptoms to observe and establishing a number of plants per hectare to be sampled.
Furthermore, the Agricultural Extension agents have access to an innovative app that allows for the remote completion, during the same visit to the farm, of movement guides and inspection records. These are sent in real time to the Government of the Canary Islands for the issuance of transport authorisations, thereby facilitating the process for both grape growers and technicians.
Valentín González also explains that “aware of the workload involved for Agricultural Extension technicians in initiating the phylloxera control process, the Cabildo will formalise an agreement with the Government of the Canary Islands to enlist 7 new operatives to assist with control efforts.
