Growers of banana, avocado and citrus in Africa are set to resume exports to the lucrative markets in Europe, South Africa and Middle East after the removal of quarantine restrictions for such produce, researchers said on Tuesday.
Several researchers from Africa and across the globe which conducted studies on the presence of an invasive Asian fruit fly known as Bactrocera invadens convinced EU, Middle East and some African countries to remove such restrictions on the produce. "Our studies have now convinced countries like South Africa, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands to remove their quarantine restrictions for such produce from Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Tanzania, Senegal among others," Scientist Sunday Ekesi from the Nairobi-based International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
Ekesi noted that the findings, published in February 2013 in the Journal of Applied Entomology, showed mature green Cavendish dwarf banana to be a non-host stage of Bactrocera invadens, meaning that this particular variety should therefore not be subjected to quarantine restrictions.
Ekesi noted that by applying the protocols, published in 2011 and 2012 in the Journal of Economic Entomology, growers in sub Saharan African countries infested by Bactrocera invadens will now be able to export avocado and citrus to Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
