The Asian fruit fly is a serious threat to Botswana's food security; despite efforts by the Botswana Government and the global community to finish it off, the pest still remains a concern for farmers. As a result of the outbreak five years ago, farmers experienced catastrophic financial losses when the quality of their crop was negatively affected and their costs increased trying to deal with the pest.
Last week, at the end of the two-year management programme to control the Asian fruit flies, the director of crop production in the Ministry of Agriculture, Galeitsiwe Ramokapane discussed the 2010 outbreak.
The fly was first detected in Chobe, and the assumption was that it could have been carried through imports of fruits from neighbouring Zambia, Namibia or Zimbabwe. Less than two years later, in July 2012, another fruit fly outbreak hit the Tuli Block, along the Limpopo River, which runs through the Botswana/South Africa border.
Again, a question of cross-border fruit importation arose, especially since Botswana, being a landlocked country, imports almost all fruits and vegetables from the neighbours, South Africa especially. In May 2013, the fruit fly hit the North East District, now bordering Zimbabwe, the biggest exporters of mango.
To mitigate against any further attacks to the ailing industry, the government sought help and resources from the international community. In 2014, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) sponsored a 24-months project to the tune of P1.7 million. But, protecting and securing food for the nation is an expensive and long-term exercise, which needs adequate resources.
Greater efforts and resources need to be in place to ensure a lasting solution. Otherwise, next year this time, there may be more outbreaks in many other parts of the country.
(1 Botswanan Pula= 0.086 USD)
Source: mmegi.bw
