Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Biological Center to Reduce Agro-Toxins

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TEGUCIGALPA, Dec 13 2010 (IPS) - The Honduran Agricultural Research Foundation will establish a center for the production of biological agents to protect crops, as a way to replace the use of agro-chemicals. The bio-agents will be used initially to control pests in sugarcane fields, and will later be extended to other crops, depending on the results, according to Mauricio Rivera, head of the Foundation's plant protection department, based in the northwestern city of La Lima.

The initial investment is 115,000 dollars. “What we want to do is replace the chemical agents in order to reduce toxicity in farming operations and generate cleaner outputs,” Rivera explained to Tierramérica.

Already, the Foundation has helped in controlling pests like the black sigatoka (Mycospharella fijiensis), which affects banana crops.