Coffee Rust Plagues Farmers in Mexico

Fungal diseases are a major challenge in farming, and coffee growers in Latin America must contend with coffee rust – a disease caused by the Hemileia vastatrix, an orange dust that causes the leaves on coffee bushes to fall away, reports Frédéric Saliba for Guardian Weekly. “The crisis seems particularly serious in Central America, with a state of emergency already in force in Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala,” he writes. First observed in East Africa and now scattered throughout Latin America, including Mexico, the fungus travels with the wind, animals, as well as belongings and clothing of migrant workers. Planting methods, growing plants in sun rather than shade to boost harvest yields, also spurs the fungus. Many farmers may resort to using stronger fungicides. Government officials and trade associations like Amecafe are trying to advise and train the many growers with small coffee farms, dispersed throughout the region. – YaleGlobal