Pakistan: Mango fruit fly can be tackled

Fruit fly attacks all mango varieties till August, however, in time, measures by farmers can help them obtain good quality fruit, agriculture experts said on Thursday.

Growers must have completed information about the identity of the fruit fly, the damage it can cause and methods to control it, said Deputy Director Fruit and Vegetables project Haji Naseer Ahmad while addressing a gathering of mango farmers at a seminar in Alipur tehsil.

He said a campaign was in progress under the supervision of parliamentary secretary on agriculture Rana Ijaz Ahmad Noon to perform pest scouting, hold mango seminars with on-farm demonstration of installation of Traps and Baits to kill male and female fruit fly, says a release issued by media liaison unit of Punjab agriculture department.
Assistant director agriculture information Naveed Asmat Kahlon said that fertile land of Alipur was located between two rivers and farmers were getting good quality production by adopting modern technology under guidance from agriculture officials.

Another expert Niaz Ahmad gave a detailed briefing to farmers on the fruit fly identity, its life cycle, the application of Methyl Eugenol Traps and one square metre Protein Hydrolysate bands. The bands are to be applied on a tree, leaving one tree free, he said and added that six Methyl Eugenol Traps be applied per acre in an orchard.

Rana Habib Ur Rahman advised growers to pay attention to recommendations of experts and practice them in letter and spirit to ensure export of good quality mango to lucrative markets of the world.

Source: www.nation.com.pk

Publication date: Mon 30 Jun 2014