Regional Programme for the Control of the Carambola Fruit Fly in South America

Background

The presence of the Carambola Fruit Fly (CFF) (Bactrocera carambolae (Diptera, Tephritidae)) in Suriname and French Guyana represents a threat to the production and marketing of fruits and vegetables throughout tropical and subtropical South and Central America and the Caribbean. Relative lack of action to control the pest when it was first detected allowed CFF to establish itself as a pest of significant economic importance, particularly to the fruit industry. This resulted in the imposition of quarantine regulations on the part of importing countries in 1986, which substantially reduced the export of fruits and vegetables from Suriname.

There was potential for the spread of the pest to adjacent areas of Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia, as well as to neighbouring Caribbean countries, due to the extensive trade in the host fruits. The situation thus demanded an immediate response in the form of an appropriate control strategy to address the current infestation, and to perfect the control strategy with the aim of eventually eradicating the pest from South America.

Grant purpose

To eradicate CFF so as to help secure the development of a viable fruit and vegetable production industry. Other objectives were to assist in developing systems to manage Anastrepha species, and to help develop plant protection services in the four countries primarily involved.

Components

Pilot technical validation phase

A pilot CFF containment programme lasting about six months was initiated in northwestern Suriname to facilitate testing, validation and further development of existing technologies, including Male Annihilation Technique (MAT). Towards the end of the pilot phase, an Environmental Technical Assessment (ETA) was undertaken to examine the potential environmental impact of the various aspects of the programme.

Regional control programme

Based on the results of the pilot phase, MAT technology was deployed in all infested area in the region. Operation in each country varied in intensity and coverage, depending on the distribution of the CFF infestation and the institutional infrastructure in place.

Public awareness programme

A public information campaign to ensure that rural communities understand and participated in the containment effort was initiated towards the end of the pilot phase. In Suriname, the public and extension activities of the programme were linked with the IFAD-financed Smallholder Support Project.

Establishment of regional capacity to detect, monitor and control fruit flies of phyto-sanitary importance

An institutional capacity-building programme was implemented, including training, environmental monitoring and research, aimed at providing information for the development of the fruit fly survey, detection and control.

Impact

The programme is now operating efficiently and effectively in three of the four countries. Brazil and Guyana are virtually free of CFF.

CFF is considered eradicated from Guyana since May 1998. A trapping system well distributed throughout the country has not detected CFF in any area. The fruit survey carried out in high risk areas has also shown no infestation. National capacity to perform quarantine and eradication actions are established. Guyana, according to the requirements established by International Agreements, has the elements to be declared free of B. carambolae.

Brazil is essentially free of CFF, with only occasional adults trapped along major highways in Amapa. The eradication emergency protocol is implemented with each adult find. No larvae have been detected. Quarantine procedures have been strengthened at points of high risk.

A major part of Suriname is free of the pest. Latest reports indicate that a small persistent CFF population remains in the Saramacca region. A new MAT treatment, transferred from California, USA, is being used, with success.

In French Guyana, the programme is not making substantial progress. The coastal area is heavily infested. The eradication programme started in February 1999 in the St George area, bordering Brazil, but gradually phased out. The lack of progress toward CFF eradication is of major concern, since the achievements made by the programme could be lost because of re-infestation from French Guyana.

The highest priority is to keep Guyana and Brazil free of CFF and to avoid its spread to neighbouring countries. All efforts are focused on total eradication in three years. Post-eradication activities are being planned to ensure the area is free and is protected from new introductions.

Links to other IFAD projects

Smallholder Support Project, Suriname.

Links to related research results:

Carambola Fruit Fly Programme – Annual Report 2001

Thematic plan for fruit fly control using the sterile insect technique

Mosca da Carambola

Irradiation as a quarantine treatment of fresh fruits and vegetables. Report of a task force convened by the International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Contact

Dr Aldo Malavasi
Regional Coordinator, Regional Programme for the Control of the Carambola Fruit Fly in South America
IICA Office in Suriname
Letitia Vriesdelaan 11
Paramaribo, Suriname
Telephone: INT+597+ 410 951\478 187
Fax: INT+597+ 410 727
E-mail: iicacff@sr.net

Contact in IFAD

Dr Shantanu Mathur
Technical Adviser, Economic and Financial Analysis
Technical Advisory Division, IFAD, Rome.