Oriental fruit fly eradicated in the Northern Cape

Scott Bauer via Wikimedia Commons

"Eradication, which included the application of protein bait sprays, deployment of male annihilation (MAT) blocks and strict field sanitation within the quarantine areas was successfully conducted. The areas from Douglas to Prieska as well as between Groblershoop and Augrabies have been declared free from the presence of Bactrocera dorsalis," said the department in a statement on Thursday

The pest entered South Africa in 2010 and established itself in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

Several Oriental fruit fly specimens were detected between Douglas and Prieska in the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality, Groblershoop, Karos, Upington, Kakamas and Augrabies, as well as areas alongside or close to the Orange River in the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality.

The detections were made on several occasions between 7 February and 29 May 2019 and phytosanitary actions were implemented to control the movement of fruit from the areas under delimitation.

Fresh produce host crops cultivated in the affected areas include citrus, table grapes and pomegranates.

However, the department warned that this is a polyphagous pest that can utilise hosts cultivated by the citrus, deciduous and subtropical fruit industries, as well as berries and tomatoes among others.

"This pest can result in food insecurity, yield reduction, job losses, market restrictions and high production and post-harvest costs, if not effectively controlled," the department said.

Exotic Fruit Fly Surveillance Programme and monitoring

Meanwhile, the department has since established an Exotic Fruit Fly Surveillance Programme and with many areas in the southern and western parts of the country still free from the Oriental fruit fly.

The department said it is highly essential to ensure that pest-free areas are maintained.

The fruit fly can be suppressed in areas where it has established by practising effective orchard/field sanitation, chemical control and restricting the removal of host material from quarantine (infested) areas to non-quarantine (non-infested) areas.

"Monitoring of the fruit fly population levels remains critical and growers must implement a monitoring programme for early detection or to ensure measures are implemented in time.

The department has reminded traders, community members, marketing agents and farmers not to remove fruit from quarantine areas to non-quarantine areas without a removal permit.

The permit is obtainable from the Directorate: Inspection Services in terms of the Control Measures R.110 of the Agricultural Pests Act, 1983 (Act No. 36 of 1983).

"Removal cannot be allowed if fruit fly management measures are not implemented and population levels are not reduced to an acceptable level."

The department emphasised that fruit-fly trapping buckets placed along roadsides in production areas and other public areas must not be removed.

International travellers are also advised to avoid illegal importation of agricultural commodities into South Africa because "this may lead to the introduction of new pests that are expensive and difficult to manage."