General Manager of Hortgro Science’s Crop Protection Programme, Hugh Campbell, says the discovery of the Oriental Fruit Fly in a protein baited trap in the Overberg has not impacted on production.
Part of the Grabouw region has been placed under quarantine for the next 12 weeks.
Campbell says farmers now also need permits to move fruit.
“So in terms of the operations and the impact on the ground in that region is that they have to apply for a permit and they have to subscribe to certain control measures in terms of controlling, putting out bail spray, to ensure that no fruit fly are found in their area and there’s certain controls in place in terms of how the fruit is moved. The main implication in terms of growers at this stage is that there’s management of fruit flow.”
