Government Declares Phytosanitary Emergency Due to Fungus in Sugarcane ⋆ The Costa Rica News

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) declared a phytosanitary emergency in response to the presence of the orange rust fungus in the country.

“In February, we already had information about the orange rust outbreak before the end of 2025. However, we did not have a clear picture of the extent of the impact on producers. In March, we received the preliminary report to address the phytosanitary emergency, and the declaration was published in recent days,” said Víctor Carvajal, MAG minister.

This disease is affecting 40% of the sugarcane-growing area, which is estimated at 1,530 hectares. The fungus has caused a 37% drop in crop yields.

The worst-affected areas are located in the cantons of Pérez Zeledón and Buenos Aires in the Brunca Region.

 “We understand that this is a sensitive region of great importance to the national sugarcane sector because it is home to the largest number of small and medium-sized producers. Although the area is not very large, it does include a significant number of affected farmers,” Carvajal added.

Alejandro Rodríguez, manager of the Research Department at the Directorate of Sugarcane Research and Extension (Dieca) of the Sugarcane Industrial League (Laica), explained that the strategy to address the situation involves several phases.

These include detecting the pathogen in crops, applying fertilizers and controlling weeds, applying fungicides and foliar sprays, as well as removing varieties susceptible to the disease and replacing them with more resistant seeds.

Orange rust is a disease caused by a fungus that primarily affects sugarcane. It manifests as orange-colored spots on the crop’s leaves.

These lesions produce spores that are easily dispersed by the wind. Over time, the leaves dry out and lose their ability to photosynthesize.

The fungus reduces crop yields because the plant produces less sugar. This can result in significant financial losses for domestic producers.

The last time orange rust caused concern in the country was in 2007—19 years ago—when it led to a 27% drop in production.

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