Farms in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) are being affected by flies which destroy the fruits on the Carambola/five finger trees.
Over 3600 baits were placed on the fruit trees in Mahdia and surrounding communities as the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) takes steps to eliminate the Carambola Fruit Flay.
NAREI officers placing bait on the Carambola trees in Tumatumari
Baits were also placed in Mahdia, Microbie, Tumatumari, Campbelltown, 47 Miles Mabura, and 58 Miles Mabura.
A team responsible for providing plant protection and quarantine services conducted a four-day exercise of baiting and servicing traps in the district as part of a control strategy for quarantine pest.
During a routine surveillance earlier this year it was observed that there was a large population of Fruit Fly in the targeted communities.
The adult fruit fly lives for a few weeks so it is important that they reproduce rapidly for their survival. The fruit flies lay eggs in the flesh of ripening and ripe fruits and vegetables. Once the eggs are hatched, the larvae begin to feed within the fruit. This causes the fruit to prematurely ripen, rot and drop.
The NAREI team also serviced Jackson traps (detectors) that were installed at Rockstone and Mabura outposts. While the traps at Rockstone were empty, two Carambola Fruit Flies were found in a trap at Mabura outpost. This is an indication that the pest is moving closer to Lethem, an area yet unaffected.
Even at this stage residents and farmers can assist in eliminating the pest through practices such as placing fallen fruits inside plastic bags and leaving them exposed to sun light; using fruits as livestock feed; and spraying insecticide on the soil around the tree.
NAREI is reminding persons to avoid transporting fruits from the affected areas to other parts of the country.
