PNG FRUIT FLY TRIALS SUCCEEDING Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/03/2002 - 00:00
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (May 31, 2002 - Post-Courier/PINA Nius Online) -There appears to be good news for Papua New Guinea fruit farmers, with trials of a fruit fly control method showing encouraging results.
The trials have been conducted for the past three years by the National Agriculture Research Institute. They have been funded by the Australian Center for International Agriculture Research and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
Fruit fly is a major problem in Papua New Guinea, where the insect infects fruits. Infected fruits have little worms inside. Specialists say Papua New Guinea has the highest number of fruit fly species in the Pacific, with about 180 varieties.