Baits and lures get the upper hand on fruit flies. Validated RNRRS Output.

Abstract

This is one of 280 summaries describing key outputs from the projects run by DFID's 10-year Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) programmes.

Associated with Projects R8089, R8440, R6924 and R7447. Simple, practical and economic fruit fly controls are helping poor farmers in India and Pakistan to cut their losses with tree fruit and cucurbit vegetables. Previously, because these farmers lacked the resources to buy insecticide sprays, they lost as much as 21% of their fruit and 24% of cucurbits to these pests. Home-made baits of banana or raw sugar (bait application technique, or BAT) and wood blocks soaked in insecticide (male annihilation technique, or MAT) are two very effective components of the control package. In cucurbits BAT reduced losses by 50% and MAT by 43%, while together they cut losses by 59%. In orchard fruit, MAT reduced losses by 39%, BAT by 36% and the two together by 69%.

The CD has the following information for this output: Description, Validation, Current Situation, Current Promotion, Impacts On Poverty, Environmental Impact. Attached PDF (10 pp.) taken from the CD.

Citation

CPP19, New technologies, new processes, new policies: tried-and-tested and ready-to-use results from DFID-funded research, Research Into Use Programme, Aylesford, Kent, UK, ISBN 978-0-9552595-6-2, p 49.

Published 1 January 2007