Bad food: Fruit flies in produce can bug exports

FAISALABAD:

All Pakistan Fruits and Vegetables Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (APFVEIMA) has expressed concern over the presence of the insects, particularly fruit flies, and diseases in fruits and vegetables.  

“This is alarming and will severely affect Pakistani exports in the vegetable and fruit sectors”, APFVEIMA representative warned. APFVEIMA chairman Abdul Malik said the recent ban by European countries on imports of Indian mangoes and certain vegetables due to fruit flies was significant for Pakistan.

He said “our mangoes and some vegetables have similar issues. Our export consignments are already under observation”.

Pakistan has been issued a ‘yellow’ warning, he said. If serious efforts are not initiated for devising short and long term solution, the possibility of a ‘red’ warning banning import of Pakistani fruits and vegetables cannot be ruled out, he said.

He said that Pakistan earned $625 million annually from fruit and vegetable exports.

The APFVEIMA has also sought assistance and guidance from experts at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF).

UAF Entomology Department chairman Jalal Arif said the UAF had suggested a number of measures to deal with the situation, including an awareness campaign directed at fruit and vegetable growers in Pakistan regarding the presence of insects and diseases. He said practices such as clean cultivation and the pruning and thinning of fruit plants would also be useful. He said they should also use an integrated pest management strategy, including suitable and potential beneficial insects like predators and parasitoids. He said early harvesting mature fruits and vegetables and insect and disease-resistant varieties should be grown.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2014.