Tri-country collaboration to eradicate carambola fruit fly

Guyana, Brazil and Suriname are collaborating to eradicate the carambola fruit fly, which plagues agricultural produce and poses economic and environmental challenges in the Region.

At a workshop hosted by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on Wednesday, National Agricultural and Research Extension Institute (NAREI) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Oudho Homenauth said the exercise was centred on the elimination of the carambola fruit fly, which poses a serious threat. Dr Homenauth is of the view that there is a need for collaboration to effectively address the issue.
“It is recognised that no one country in the Region can seriously manage the pest problem. We all have to work together. So, it is imperative that our efforts be combined; and the three countries – that is Guyana, Suriname and Brazil – have agreed to work together to have a unified approach to make a difference,” Dr Homenauth is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.
The NAREI CEO said that as Guyana continued to expand its non-traditional agricultural sector, systems needed to be in place to protect crops.
That was seconded by Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, Delma Nedd, who noted the effects of the carambola fruit fly on Guyana’s agricultural development. She said studies show the fly was responsible for as much as 50 per cent yield loss of the carambola crop.
“The increased movement of people and commodities, along with the porosity of Guyana’s border, increases the likelihood for the introduction and establishment of plant pests and diseases. Therefore, the implementation of concerted pest eradication efforts among Guyana, Brazil and Suriname, will alleviate the challenges faced in the control and eradication of the carambola fruit fly.”
Nedd added that the Agriculture Ministry will continue its monitoring and assessment to eradicate the agricultural pest.