Knowledge Center Catalog

Economic losses from Karnal bunt of wheat in Mexico

Brennan, J.P.

Economic losses from Karnal bunt of wheat in Mexico - Mexico : CIMMYT, 1990. - x, 56 pages - Printed - CIMMYT Economics Working Paper ; 90-2 .

Open Access Tables, references p. 34, appendices

There has been concern in Mexico in recent years about the impact of the disease Karnal bunt (KB) on the wheat industry; however, to date no comprenhensive information has been available on the economic impact of the disease. Karnal bunt first appeared in Mexico in 1970, but caused little economic loss until the early 1980s, when the level of infestation increased sharply in some years. Initially found in southern Sonora, by 1983 the disease had spread south into the neighboring state of Sinaloa. It has now spread to Baja California Sur (BCS), although not to northern Sonora or to Baja California Norte. The purpose of this report is to estimate the cost to Mexico associated with KB in northwestern Mexico in an average year, based on the expericence of recent years. The estimated costs can then be used for assessing: 1) the priority that should be given to KB in allocating wheat research resources, and 2) the appropriate level of investment in measures to prevent its spread to other wheat-growing areas of Mexico. The economic costs caused by KB can be divided into direct and indirect costs. Direct costs include yield and quality losses and the loss of seed export markets following the presence of KB in Mexico. Indirect costs are those associated with measures aimed to prevent the spread of KB and to reduce its severety. The estimates prepared in this study represent the first attempt to quantify the economic costs of KB. As such, they are based on often inadequate information and would benefit from more precise data. However, the data used are the best available, considering the paucity of information on many aspects of KB.


Text in English


Crop losses
Disease resistance
Economics
Plant diseases
Seed production
Yields


Mexico

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