How to Manage Fruit Flies on Mango, Experts in International Workshop Answer

India has been unanimously chosen as the chair of the Standing Committee on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for the biennium 2023-24 by the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC). The decision was made during the 32nd Session of the APPPC held in Bangkok in November 2022.

As part of its responsibilities, India will host the APPPC Workshop on Systems Approach for the management of fruit flies on mango, scheduled to take place from June 19 to 23, 2023 at Hotel Fortune Select Exotica in Vashi, Navi Mumbai.

The workshop was inaugurated by Shobha Karandlaje, the Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmer Welfare, GOI, who expressed that the workshop would promote India's motto of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and emphasized the need for collaboration in agricultural exports and trade.

Ashish Kumar Shrivastava, Joint Secretary (PP), provided an overview of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), APPPC, and their role in ensuring the safe transboundary movement of agricultural commodities through phytosanitary measures. He shared India's experiences in implementing a Systems Approach for mangoes, highlighting the importance of farm registration, integrated pest management practices at the farmer level, regular pest monitoring, and timely pest management.

This approach allows even small and marginal farmers to produce export-quality crops while avoiding the need for stringent treatments. Dr S.N. Sushil, Director of ICAR-NBAIR, discussed the successful implementation of the Systems Approach in India, particularly mentioning the internationally recognized Systems Approach of Grapenet.

Dr J.P. Singh, Plant Protection Adviser, DPPQ&S, and Chairman of the APPPC IPM Standing Committee, welcomed the participants and shared India's journey in implementing the Systems Approach. He highlighted the importance of farmer registration, adoption of Good Agricultural Practices, pest monitoring, processing attack house, and phytosanitary treatment to ensure pest-free global trade. Dr YubakDhoj, Executive Secretary of the APPPC Secretariat, stated that the capacity development program would provide practical measures for managing fruit flies during the transboundary movement of agricultural products at the international level. Tarun Bajaj, Director of APEDA, explained the role of APEDA in the export of agricultural commodities and highlighted India's export of approximately 60 million dollars' worth of fresh mangoes.

The workshop was attended in person by participants from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and Bhutan, while other countries joined virtually. Additionally, officials from DPPQS, Faridabad, APEDA, MSAMB, and officers from the State Horticulture Departments of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh participated in the workshop.

Over the course of the five-day workshop, discussions focused on the Systems Approach for managing fruit flies in mangoes, a review of relevant International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), pre-harvest integrated plant health management for mango pests, and NPPO case studies. Participants also had the opportunity to visit treatment facilities and mango orchards as part of the workshop's activities.