By The Mountain Journal Science team
There is a ray of hope to the mango farmers in
Kenya following a research pact between Mount Kenya University (MKU) and the University
of West of Scotland on the management of the fruit fly.
In the past, Kenyan farmers have been going
at a loss following an increased infestation of the mangos by the fruit flies
that burrow into the fruits.
The Sh15 million pact on the management of
the fruit fly has given the local farmers hope that their fruits will enter
into the European Union and American markets.
Innovate UK has granted Kenya’s leading
university in research and Innovation the grant to develop a novel product for
the management of fruit fly.
A photo of a fruit fly
The grant will be implemented in partnership with
the leading UK Based University of West of Scotland and Farmtrack
consultancy based in Kenya on speciliazed in the sustainable management of
agricultural pests.
The objective of the research is to develop
a friendly female fruit fly protein-baited trap( Food Bait) using the local raw
materials.
Some years ago, Kenya was forced to ban the
exportation of mangoes following to European Union (EU) due to the fruit fly
menace.
Kenya produces mango estimated at Sh50billion
annually, the majority destined for the export market.
Through the Knowledge Transfer Partnership
(KTP) the project is the first of its kind between the two
universities that will involve the development of sustainable female fruit fly
management of fruit bait.
The project is expected to contribute to
long term and sustainable management of fruit fly for the benefit of fruit and
vegetable farmers in Kenya and beyond.
The project will be supervised by Dr Mary
Muriuki Dean School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Dr Maina Ngotho, Dr Allan
Mweke who will be backed by Elizabeth Mwaura and Simon Nyoro who will be
assisted in field tests and community outreach.
According to the Horticulture Crops
Directorate farmers face the challenge of securing better prices in the
European and American markets because of the increased infestation of
mangos by the flies that burrow into the fruits.
Fruit flies
cause direct damage by puncturing the fruit skin to lay eggs. During egg-laying
bacteria from the intestinal flora of the fly are introduced into the fruit.
These bacteria cause the rotting of the tissues surrounding the egg. When the
eggs hatch, the maggots feed on the fruit flesh making galleries. These provide
entry for pathogens and increase fruit decay, making fruits unsuitable for
human consumption. Generally, the fruit falls to the ground as, or just before
the maggots pupate. In fruits for export, fruit flies cause indirect losses
resulting from quarantine restrictions that are imposed by importing countries
to prevent the entry of fruit flies. Nearly all fruit fly species are
quarantine pests.
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