2009-02-09 10:17:49
By Njonanje Samweli, The Guardian, Tanzania
A mango production company has warned of a drastic drop in output in the near future if no measures are taken to prevent the increase of flies known scientifically as Bactrocera Invadens that cause the spread of mango diseases.
Burton Nsape, a Farmer from Mbezi Msumi in Dar es Salaam told The Guardian yesterday that the huge fruit flies are spread in many parts of the country where the mangoes are grown and that two thirds of Tanzanian farmers engaged in such farming have been affected by the flies.
``Normally the fly known as Bactrocera Invadens lays an egg on a mango. The egg penetrates and lodges in the fruit, where it hatches a poisonous larva that causes the mango to rot and consequently produce maggots`` he said.
According to Nsape, right now the majority of farmers engaged in such farming are trying to find a solution to the problem which is on the increase and poses one of the greatest constraints to the development and improvement of mango production.
He said researchers from Mikocheni Agriculture Research Institute (MARI) and others from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Co-operative are carrying out a research on the mango variety of Keitt and Tommy Akctings studying the fruit flies that cause the mango to rot, form fungus and produce maggots.
The research findings will help all farmers engaged in mango farming to control fruit flies and produce mangoes that meet customer needs and compete with other countries such as Australia, Israel, South Africa, Puerto Rico, US and Mexico.
Samples from the research would be used as the basis for further scientific research on biodiversity in general, in addition to the interrelationships, origin and evolution of insects and their allies.
Nsape also called on the government to allocate more research’s funds and train young biologists including entomologists on how to prevent fruit flies and to cultivate, harvest and even keep mangoes in a conducive environment.
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