Thailand imposes strict ban on imports of cassava blocks

 

FILE photo

 

BANGKOK, 4 June 2018 (NNT) - The Thai government is putting a strict ban on the imports of cassava blocks after reports of mosaic virus spread in Cambodia. 

Director General of the Department of Agriculture Suwit Chaikiattiyos has chaired a meeting to discuss the reported spread of mosaic virus in the cassava crop in the Thai-Cambodian border area. 

The meeting followed a close monitoring of the situation, as the virus has never been found in Thailand before. 

The Department of Agriculture noted that the presence of mosaic virus can mean a high cost for the agricultural sector and the Thai cassava industry. 

The cassava mosaic virus has normally been found in such Asian countries as India and Sri Lanka before it was reported in Cambodia. 

Thailand has included the mosaic disease in the list of quarantine pests and declared a ban on the importation of cassava blocks or parts that allow vegetative propagation.

 

-- nnt 2018-06-04

Slightly OT from the virus topic I know, but there could be a big opportunity to increase the sale of cassava here if the project in Indonesia is anything to go by, producing biodegradable bags, looking just like a plastic bag:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXklBP53VT4