ADDIS ABABA – The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) has launched Integrated Pest Management (IPM) project to control harmful fruit insects in Eastern Africa.
The icipe launched the IPM project yesterday to implement agro-ecological-based technologies to enhance safe fruit production in three trans-boundary countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, the icipe Principal Scientist and Head of the Social Sciences and Impact Assessment Unit Menale Kassie (PhD) said that currently, harmful flies or insects have been resulting in reduction of production and productivity. Mainly the white mango scale has been greatly affecting mango productivity. The project aimed to address these fruit sector challenges by scaling proven agro ecological-based IPM approaches and good agricultural practices especially to control white mango scale.
It focuses on establishing sites and gender-inclusive capacity building of all segments of the beneficiaries using digital and non-digital platforms as well as training of young African scientists from the target countries at the post graduate level, he said.
“Today, we have launched a project that would contribute to controlling the harmful insects that affect the productivity of fruits, specifically Banana, Citrus, Mangoes, Avocados, Oranges and others. Currently, white mango scale has been highly affecting Ethiopian farmers economically. As a result, some of the farmers are cutting down mango trees. Its productivity has been reduced by 30%.”
The project is ready to assist the farmers and government controlling the white mango scale. Mango is the second yielding fruit in Ethiopia following Banana (nearly 14% yielding). It is a source of foreign currency generation. The project would apply technologies like natural enemies for fruits, he said.
For her part, icipe Senior Plant Scientist Semira Mohamed (PhD) stressed that the project would tackle three major devastating pests such as fruit flies, fruit causing moths and white mango scale on key high value crops.
Africa is estimated to lose two billion USD annually due to white mango scale pests. Addressing these challenges ensures food security, income generation, reduces unemployment, poverty reduction and others, she noted.
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2023
