Heavy rainfall in El Oro province, Ecuador, has prompted authorities to activate an immediate response protocol following the detection of a Fusarium Race 4 outbreak. The situation was reported on Saturday, February 7, by the Ecuadorian Agency for Phytosanitary and Animal Health Regulation (Agrocalidad). Given the severity of the conditions, the agency has intensified surveillance measures at La Carolina farm, where the fungal outbreak began, as well as at neighboring farms to prevent further spread of the disease.

Agrocalidad has stated that it is collaborating with various governmental entities under a recently signed inter-institutional cooperation agreement. This includes partnerships with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the Provincial Councils of Ecuador (Congope), and the El Oro government, among other authorities. Their goal is to ensure a coordinated and timely response to this agricultural emergency, highlighting the importance of multi-agency collaboration in crises like these.

On the preceding Friday, Agrocalidad and representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture conducted assessments in the zero zone located in Santa Rosa. The presence of the Fusarium Race 4, known for causing significant damage to crops, raises concerns not only for local agricultural productivity but also for the broader implications it may have on food security and economic stability in the region, prompting urgent action to mitigate its impact.