A fruit fly invasion, which has caused havoc in the central Mozambican province of Manica, is now travelling south to the provinces of Maputo, Inhambane and Gaza, despite the current ban on exporting fruit produced in Manica.
Known for its bananas, mangoes, oranges and tangerines, the province ordered the ban over a year ago as authorities attempt to eradicate the pest which attacks plants and destroys fruit.
The country’s ministry of agriculture has warned that the pest is a threat not only to southern Mozambique, but to the entire Southern African Development Community (SADC) where the worst hit countries include Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe, although the latter has not imposed any restrictions.
The agriculture ministry added that Mozambique faces problems with mildew on cashew trees and the lethal yellowing disease, which affects coconuts and palms, particularly in the northern provinces of Nampula and Zambezia.
There are about 1,000 known species of fruit fly in Africa, with over 50 of them posing a significant risk from an economic perspective. Most of the species are native to the African continent although some have been accidentally introduced from other regions, in particular Asia.
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