A fruit fly native to Sri Lanka is invading Africa at an alarming speed, according to the EU-funded scheme Pesticides Initiative Programme (PIP), attacking various fruit species and market garden produce.
The new pest, Bactrocera invadens, is adding to the damage already caused by the presence of other flies, essentially Ceratitis. PIP estimates that the new fly is seriously compromising potential African fruit exports to Europe, as well as production for local consumption and regional markets.
Fruit flies are classified as “quarantine organisms”, which means that no fruit containing larvae may be exported on threat of rejection and total destruction of the shipment, a situation that is particularly critical for mango exports from West Africa to the EU.
“In the face of this threat, COLEACP/PIP has decided to mobilise stakeholders and to take immediate action,” said a statement from the firm. “COLEACP, along with French agricultural research institute CIRAD, has decided to increase awareness of the need to control fruit flies among public and private fruit and vegetable operators in West and Central Africa. The challenge is complex, urgent and regional in nature, and there is no single, immediate economic solution for the moment.”
The COLEACP delegate general put the word out at two recent events, one in Conakry, Guinea on December 1 2006, and one in Burkina Faso on December 14. “Awareness is growing that integrated control of flies in West Africa will require sustained and coordinated efforts to produce its full effect over the medium and long term,” said PIP.
COLEACP/PIP and the ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural cooperation have put out a brochure that will be widely distributed during the upcoming mango export season in West Africa, proposing different methods of supervising fly control.
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