The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has issued a statement to address misconceptions surrounding the local citrus industry, clarifying that the country is not under threat from a new greening disease.
Justin Chadwick, CEO of the CGA, noted that African Citrus Greening (ACG) is not a newly emerging threat but has been managed successfully in South Africa since its first detection in 1932. “Contrary to media reports, the local citrus industry is not facing a new disease threat,” he stated.
ACG, a well-known citrus disease, is under official control in South Africa, with strict measures in place to prevent the movement of propagation material from greening-affected areas to greening-free zones.
Importantly, Chadwick highlighted that ACG cannot be spread by fruit or seed, and there are no restrictions on the movement of citrus fruit within or outside the country. “Any suggestions that export citrus can spread this disease is incorrect,” he added.
No link between ACG and other citrus diseases
Chadwick clarified that recent media confusion stemmed from the conflation of ACG with Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as Asian Citrus Greening or Yellow Dragon, which has devastated citrus production in other regions but is not present in South Africa.
ACG, which was detected near Gqeberha in October 2023, remains under control through targeted measures involving the regulation of insect vectors and infected plant material.
“ACG and HLB are two entirely different diseases, caused by different bacteria and spread by different vectors,” Chadwick explained, reinforcing that ACG is not nearly as dangerous as HLB.
A bright future ahead
Despite recent reports, Chadwick expressed confidence in the industry’s future, stating that the South African citrus industry remains robust.
“African Citrus Greening is not a threat to the future of our citrus industry,” he said. “In fact, the future is looking bright.”
He acknowledged that while climate and economic challenges have affected export volumes, the sector is set to continue its impressive growth trajectory, driven by the dedication of local growers and rigorous phytosanitary standards.
Chadwick dismissed any attempts to link ACG to the current cases at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) involving Citrus Black Spot (CBS) and False Codling Moth (FCM), stating these are unrelated matters.
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