Country facing losses of $200m due to fruit fly attacks: experts

Government urged to address issue at national level

FAISALABAD: The country is facing losses of at least $200 million annually owing to fruit fly attacks on crops which is posing a serious threat to the export of fruits.

If measures are not taken to control the threat, the loss would increase manifold. These views were expressed by agricultural experts while addressing a seminar on fruit fly management. The event was arranged by Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), in collaboration with district government as part of fruit fly management week.

Campaign launched to control fruit fly

While presiding over the seminar, UAF Vice-Chancellor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar said modern practices must be promoted and practised in the fields to fight the attack of different insects on the field.  “If fruit fly issue is not addressed at national level, it would not only dent our agricultural exports but also cause reduction in the production,” he added.

He lauded the steps being taken on the part of Punjab government for the uplift of the sector and to promote the modern techniques and practices. He said plant protection measures helped increase per hectare yield.

He maintained, “We have to educate the farming community to tackle the situation that will boost their income and reduce poverty.”

Faculty of Agriculture Dean Dr Muhammad Amjad Aulakh said, “Fruit fly management is still a challenge. Last year, Indian mangoes export to Europe was banned due to fruit fly attacks whereas the warning has been issued to Pakistan in this regard.”  He suggested creating awareness about the fruit fly at the school level across the province.

He pointed out that fruit fly was inflicting losses worth $150 million to the United States, $242 million to Brazil, $159 million to Australia, and $100 million to India.



Similarly, Institute of Horticulture Sciences Director Dr Amanullah said commercial technologies for fruit fly disinfection included cold treatment, heat treatment, hot water treatment and vapour heat treatment. Plant Production Deputy Director Kashif Nadeem said that chemical sprays, exceeding maximum residual limits (MRL), were posing challenges for the export.

Entomology Department Assistant Professor Dr Muhammad Dildar Gogi said that in 2013, almost all mango shipments/consignments from Pakistan were disposed of by the quarantine department of the United Kingdom because of the detection of fruit flies inside the produce.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2017.