ASSESSMENT OF MANGO YIELD LOSS AND FRUIT FLY (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF MANGO PRODUCING FARMERS IN ARBAMINCH ZURIA WOREDA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a valuable food and cash crop that contributes to agricultural development agents. This study was conducted to assess mango fruit yield loss due to fruit flies (Diptera, Tephritidae) and management approaches by farmers in Arbaminch, Zuria Woreda. Three administrative kebeles, viz., "Chano mile," "Lante," and "Kolla shele," were purposively selected from the Arbaminch Zuria Woreda. Both survey and assessments were collected. Sixty respondents were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Mango variety, mango pests and their economic importance, abundance, infestation, yield loss estimation, management practices applied for fruit flies and farmers’ willingness to pay for the best management options were assessed. The results were analyzed using SPSS software and presented using descriptive statistics; and the variables were tested by chi-square test. Farmers in Arbaminch Zuria produced five types of mango varieties, with local mango varieties being the most common. All the respondent farmers (100%) had the local mango variety. Common mango fruit pests like fruit flies, white mango scales, mealybug, grivet monkeys, speckled birds, and weaver ants as an indirect pest which may interfere with natural enemies were recognized. The fruit fly species Bactrocera invadens was trapped in the field with the abundance of 43 flies per trap per day (FTD). Fruit flies caused 94.28±10.21 Kg and 29.84% of loss in fruit yield per tree. The mean monetary loss value was estimated to 471,412.3±51010.9 birr/ha/year. The highest infestation was recorded in the peak harvest time (February) which was 40.78%. To overcome the fruit fly damage, mango producers applied different management methods. Of these methods, Methyl Eugenol trapping, field sanitation, burying infested fruits, and smoking the field were the most common. It was concluded that mango fruit flies are the most economically important insect pests of mango in the Arbaminch Zuria Woreda. The study recommends the evaluation and release of less susceptible mango varieties to fruit fly infestation, white mango scale, and other pests and diseases, evaluate the farmers’ practices. And new methods of management to develop a holistic integrated pest management system