Increased Production and Export of Fresh Fruits by Control of Fruit Flies in the South Pacific. South Pacific Commission. Terminal statement

The objective of the project was to provide the participating Governments with technical assistance to ensure continuity of activities pending the start-up of the new UNDP project RAS/93/300. As you will agree, the project has made considerable achievements in the control of fruit flies in the South Pacific by accomplishing, in particular, the following:-establishment/maintenance of laboratory colonies of the economically important fruit fly species;-testing of pre-harvest control strategies and alternative treatments to fumigation for disinfestation of fresh fruits and vegetables;-improvement of bait sprays;-training of counterpart staff and farmers and exporters through workshops on fruit fly control and quarantine treatments.In order to ensure the sustainability of fruit fly control and increase the production of fresh fruits and fleshy vegetables both for local consumption and export, it is recommended that participating countries:-develop contigency plans, as a matter of urgency, to cope with possible outbreaks of exotic fruit fly species.-establish and maintain a quarantine surveillance system based on a combination of permanent trapping stations and targeted host surveys;-provide government and industry personnel with training on field control techniques, quarantine treatments and quality assurance strategies;-encourage the formation of a regional pool of expertise in fruit flies and their control