Fruit fly spread slowing, says minister

Efforts to control the invasive fruit fly detected in the Yasawa Islands have been successful, with no further spread recorded in the past four weeks.

Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna said the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) had been actively working to contain the pest since its detection 14 weeks ago.

“According to the CEO for BAF, it hasn’t spread from the islands it was detected on in the last four weeks,” Mr Tunabuna said in an interview on Friday.

“From the data they are collecting from the traps, they seem to be very effective in the control of fruit flies.”

The Bactrocera facialis fruit fly, native to Tonga, was first detected on Nanuya Island and has since been confirmed on three other islands — Naukacuvu, Narara and Vomo.

Mr Tunabuna said strict quarantine control measures were in place to prevent the pest from spreading to Viti Levu.

“We’ve been successfully controlling the fruit fly that we have up in Rotuma,” he said.

“It’s very strict quarantine control measures that our biosecurity is carrying out.”

The fruit fly poses a threat to food security and cash crops, including chilli, breadfruit, mango, avocado, guava, capsicum and papaya.

Mr Tunabuna also provided an update on fall armyworm, another invasive pest affecting maize, rice and sugarcane. He said BAF had briefed him on Monday about efforts to minimise and stop the spread of both pests.

Farmers and members of the public are advised to remain vigilant and report any suspected fruit fly activity to the BAF hotline on 5994.