09 Sep 2018

Traders and the general public are informed to be cautious when importing fruits and vegetables into Botswana due to a possibility of infestation by the Asian Fruit Fly (Bactrocera dorsalis).

A statement from the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security (MoA) explains that the host crop for Asian Fruit Fly includes tomatoes, peppers, sweet orange, easy peelers or soft citrus such as mandarin, Satsuma, Clementine, Minneola, tangelo and tagor, grapefruit, pomelo, lemon and lime, pumpkins, squashes, melons and butternuts.

It explains that mango, pawpaw, avocado, guava, banana are also attacked.

Wild host plants for the fly include morula and wild monkey orange/ mogorogorwane.

The statement notes that all traders who wish to import fruit and vegetable crops should verify with the competent authority of the exporting country whether the area they are buying from are free from the fly or meet the conditions as laid down in the plant import permit issued by the Plant Protection Division of the Department of Crop Production.

It cautions that anyone who does not comply with the conditions stipulated in the Botswana plant import permit will not be allowed to enter the country with such consignment.

The ministry says the Fruit Fly is a pest of economic importance in Botswana which is extremely difficult to eradicate or control and a threat to the entire horticultural industry. ENDS