CROP PROTECTON

The Fruit Fly Incursion into Australia is the most destructive exotic pest identified to date. $35 million was spent in Cairns in 1995 attempting to eradicate the fruit fly and $100 million was lost in production costs, reduced productivity and market access closure. Fruit flies are a significant crop pest, affecting the agriculture industry on a global scale. They are highly mobile, and if left uncontrolled, can cause whole crop losses as well as dramatically reduce market access and export opportunities.

The negative impact of fruit fly centres around two issues:

• Firstly, direct crop loss is caused by maggots feeding and the introduction of decay organisms.
• The second problem is linked with trade; fruit flies are considered by all trading partners as major quarantine pests and their presence in production areas can lead to significant market access loss.

The Current range of eradication methods include, field bait sprays and lure-and-kill techniques.

NetPro have designed a Net for Protection from Fruit fly – (Click Here).
Available in handy sizes for the home gardener right up to commercial quantities.
This net ensures an organic product, as no sprays are required, when a protective net is used.

Photo by Jared Belson