The Ministry of Agriculture has urged farmers in south and east
China about the spread of fruit diseases and destructive pests,
such as Banana Wilt and red fire ants.
Banana Wilt, a devastating disease caused by a soil-borne
fungus, has hit 7,878 mu (525.2 hectares) of banana plants in
eastern Fujian Province, according to a notice on the ministry's
website.
Red fire ants have also shown up in south Guangxi Zhuang
Autonomous Region, with more than 150 people having been hurt by
the insects and 1,500 mu (100 ha) of cropland damaged, it said.
The ministry lists fire ants, which come from South America, as
one of 85 hazardous pests that have prompted import quarantine
checks.
The ministry told local governments to allocate staff and
funding to help control the spread of Banana Wilt and fire ants. It
also told local governments to tighten monitoring of plant diseases
and pests and quickly report new infections to higher-level
authorities.
(Xinhua News Agency February 2, 2008)
