News
Regional Training on IPM for Fruit Fly
Tien Giang, Vietnam, 7-14 December 2010
 FAO organized a Regional Training on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Fruit Fly in Tien Giang, Vietnam from 7-14 December 2010. The training was organized at the Southern Horticultural Research Institute (SOFRI) in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Vietnam Plant Protection Department, MARD. Some 36 participants from government, private sector, resource persons and FAO staff participated in this regional meeting. The training was organized within the context of the FAO/AIT Asian Fruit Fly IPM Project funded by the Global Horticulture Initiative.
  The overall objective of the training was to provide participants with information, education and hands-on experiences on fruit fly IPM to prepare them to assist farming communities in developing location-specific and effective area-wide strategies for sustainable fruit fly management. The training course sessions were divided into learning blocks on: (1) Fruit Fly Species Diagnosis, Biology and Ecology; (2) Damage Symptoms Recognition and Assessment; (3) Management Options for Fruit Fly; (4) Design of Area-wide Best-bet Management Strategies for Fruit Fly; and (5) Training Curriculum and Materials Development. As a result of the training, participants can now: (1) identify tephritid fruit flies (Bactrocera dorsalis and B. cucurbitae and B. correcta) and understand the biology, ecology and host preferences of these species; (2) recognize symptoms and assess damage levels caused  by fruit flies; (3) set up science-based and tested technologies - e.g. protein baits, lures, bagging and good sanitation practices - to suppress fruit fly populations; (4) design best-bet strategies for area-wide management of fruit fly; (5) use a modified Agro-EcoSystem Analysis tool as to integrate population monitoring mechanism for fruit flies and as a basis to decide the nature and timing of treatments that integrate a variety of management options; and (6) have access to curriculum, session guides, reference materials, and methodologies to train farmers on fruit fly IPM, preferably within the context of FFS and follow up training activities.
 Key IPM Trainers associated with ongoing National IPM Programmes and other FAO-supported projects in the Asia region are now ready to work with farming communities in innovating strategies and providing opportunities for farmers to learn about and experimenting with the latest innovative fruit fly integrated management options using FFS approaches. This is expected to translate into pilot activities that will demonstrate improved productivity and quality of fruits and vegetables enhancing food security, market access and trade opportunities.
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