Volunteer Asignment: Citrus Canker
HOLLY CHAMBERLAIN:
Among the Canker She Kept Her Cool
From climbing steep slopes to reach citrus orchards and diagnosing foliar diseases, to leading workshops for local farmers and making recommendations for improved citrus procedures, Holly Chamberlain filled her four-week volunteer technical assistance assignment with an array of highly fruitful, citrus-related activities.
Chamberlain, a citrus canker expert from the University of Florida, was assigned to assess citrus crops and production practices, identify and confirm the presence of citrus canker in the Caranavi and Sapecho provinces, and provide recommendations on strategies to successfully combat the disease. Her efforts were in support of a campaign developed by the Caranavi Regional Agricultural Service Department (Servicio Departemental Agropecuario Regional Caranavi - SEDAG) to prevent and control citrus canker.
While diagnosing other foliar illnesses (mainly fungal), Chamberlain discovered that little is known about disease prevention, control, and management among Yungas farmers. To respond to this need for increased knowledge, Chamberlain conducted 10 training workshops at various locations in the Caranavi province. A total of 324 citrus growers, technicians, and students attended the seminars and participated in discussions. Subjects covered included citrus disease and pest identification, pest management, and discussions of orchard management strategies. All of the training emphasized ecologically-friendly control techniques as an alternative to those involving chemicals.
Chamberlain developed a training course for the students of the agronomy program at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés. Furthermore, in order to provide on-going assistance to the program after her departure, Chamberlain also developed an agreement between the University of San Andres’ agronomy program and the University of Florida. This agreement will provide crucial, long-term support to the local plant pathology lab.
Given the lack of citrus specialists in Bolivia, Chamberlain’s assignment was particularly important to the future of citrus production in the Yungas. Her extensive list of recommendations will serve the citrus farmers of the Caranavi and Sapecho provinces well and perhaps pave the way for future citrus-related assignments. Infusions of short-term technical assistance, like Chamberlain’s work, are vital to the success of the Yungas Community Alternative Development Fund (YCADF) to improve productive infrastructure and to provide economic alternatives to coca growing.
