Surveying and Managing Fruit Flies in Lebanon
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Fruit flies are serious pests that cause devastating direct losses to many fruit and vegetable crops, which represent more than 70 percent of the cultivated areas in Lebanon. In addition, the current conflicts and civil unrest in neighbouring countries have increased the risk of entry of quarantine pests into the country. Against this background, it was crucial to enhance knowledge and expertise in the management and monitoring of fruit flies, and raise awareness about plant quarantine procedures and measures, in order to preserve horticultural crop production in rural communities in Lebanon.
What did the project do
The project assisted the country in developing and implementing a countrywide surveillance programme for fruit flies, which was aligned with national policies and regulations, and international standards for phytosanitary measures. National capacities for effective surveillance and management of fruit flies were significantly enhanced, as a result of training courses held on fruit fly surveillance, monitoring, management and identification, and phytosanitary measures, among other things. A number of field and awareness-raising activities were also organized, greatly benefiting farmers throughout the country. The project succeeded in creating cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and airport and aviation authorities; and a successful campaign was carried out to raise awareness on the importance of stopping passengers from bringing fresh fruits and vegetables into the country, and preventing the entrance of quarantine pests.Impact
By building national capacities to develop and implement effective surveillance and management of fruit flies across Lebanon, the project contributed to preserving horticultural crop production, and the food security and livelihoods of rural communities will improve as a result. During the many seminars carried out on the prevention and management of fruit flies, farmers learned how to prevent major crop losses. In addition, a booklet produced in Arabic on the adoption of integrated pest management for fruit flies, and distributed to farmers during the seminars, will contribute to reducing risks to human health and the environment from chemical pesticides.Activities
- A national mapping survey for fruit flies was conducted in 2015, and 4 435 traps were placed and serviced for the surveillance of fruit flies.
- With technical and logistic support from the project, a survey was carried out in 2017 by a survey team from MoA.
- The project built the capacity of MoA to be able to implement fruit flies eradication programme in the event of an outbreak.
- Around 216 national staff members (around 40 percent of whom were women) were trained on fruit flies surveillance, identification, management, eradication, biotechnology aspects for identification and management of fruit flies, implementation of the relevant phytosanitary measures, phytosanitary treatments, Pest Risk Analysis, and phytosanitary inspections.
- Three members from the project management unit participated in the Tephritid Workers of Europe, Africa and the Middle East (TEAM) Third International Symposium, where they benefited from access to the most recent research related to fruit flies from around the world.
- Around 2 432 farmers benefited from 57 field awareness-raising seminars.
- Awareness sessions were also organized for several stakeholders, such as airport authorities, airline companies, airport security, and fruit and vegetable traders.
- The project enabled effective national coordination and partnering among all relevant government authorities and stakeholders involved in fruit flies management and control, including Non-governmental Organizations, academia, airport and seaport security, customs, Lebanese airline companies, etc.
- A cost-benefit analysis of fruit flies management strategies in Lebanon was carried out at the end of the project.
Project symbol: TCP/LEB/3502
Project title: Surveillance and management of fruit flies
Contact: FAO Office in Lebanon / Shoki AlDobai (Lead Technical Officer)
Download PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/CA0142EN/ca0142en.pdf