Santo Domingo.- The Plant Health Department of the Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that no nematodes of the Heterodera genus were found in a potato farm in Constanza, dismissing initial concerns about the pest’s presence. The conclusion follows an inspection and laboratory analysis, ensuring that the disease remains classified as a “quarantine pest absent in the country.”
During a press conference, Rosa Lazala, Director of Plant Health, urged potato producers to consult the Ministry for any phytosanitary concerns instead of relying on misinformation that could harm the agricultural sector. She emphasized that ongoing sampling in the Constanza Valley will continue to provide scientific evidence. The country is also coordinating with Mexico’s National Phytosanitary Reference Center (Senasica) to conduct further testing during the potato harvest, with additional support from the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA).
Ministry technicians conducted extensive sampling in the valley and surrounding areas, detecting no nematodes beyond the initially suspected farm, which has already been addressed. Following Minister Limber Cruz’s directives, authorities will maintain strict monitoring to protect agricultural production in Constanza and across the Dominican Republic.