Buenos Aires - The National Service of Agri-Food Health and Quality (Senasa) is implementing a digital tool for the cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis Boheman) detection system, which incorporates a QR code for reading each trap placed in the country's cotton region.

The National Program for the Prevention and Eradication of the Cotton Boll Weevil (PNPEPA) by Senasa is carrying out this detection system using a mobile application. This allows trap inspectors to record all data related to their field activities directly on their mobile phones, eliminating the need to carry paper forms.

By scanning a QR code associated with each trap, the inspector identifies the trap and digitally reports any relevant information, recording the date, time, and geolocation of the activity.

Currently, there are more than 1000 traps installed in cotton boll weevil monitoring stations in the cotton region of the country. This new technology streamlines and expedites fieldwork. The collected data is automatically linked to the PNPEPA's computer system to consolidate information, determine pest population levels regionally, and generate management indicators.

Cotton is a crop of significant economic and social importance in some Argentine provinces. It plays a crucial role in regional economies, benefiting small-scale producers, utilizing local labor, and preventing migration to large urban centers.

The cotton boll weevil is considered the most damaging pest to cotton crops. Its destructive potential arises from its high reproductive capacity and the numerous generations that occur within an agricultural cycle.

To contribute to the sustainability of cotton cultivation and improve the country's phytosanitary status regarding the cotton boll weevil, it is essential to maintain current Pest-Free Areas (ALP) and reduce the population levels in Quarantine Areas (ABC) and Areas of Low Pest Prevalence (ABPP) by reducing insect population levels. For this purpose, maintaining and optimizing the pest monitoring network is crucial.

Source: SENASA