| Project Detail |
Papaya and other fruit production represent an important source of income and part of the daily diet for millions of family farms across West and Central Africa. Different fruit species are threatened by the recent introduction of an exotic mealybug, which reduces fruit production by up to 90%. The project supports a biological pest control project of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture to release a parasitic wasp, which is known to dramatically reduce mealybug infection rates, thus reducing harvest losses permanently.
Background Economic growth and poverty alleviation still largely depends on agricultural development in West and Central Africa. Millions of family farms across plant papaya not only for their own consumption but also for sale on local markets as a side cash crop. The invasion of the exotic mealy bug threatens the production of papaya and other economically important crops such as cassava, avocado, jatropha, and mango and thus the diets and incomes of millions of peasants. The pest started in Ghana, spread west to Togo, Benin, and is now reaching Nigeria and Cameron. In Ghana, 85% of cultivations have been destroyed. The pest now particularly threatens Nigeria’s $680 Million papaya market.
Objectives Sustained and high quality food production as well as farm income benefitting millions of papaya, avocado, jatropha and cassava producers and consumers in West and Central Africa. This will be achieved by means of a biological control program using proven, highly efficient natural enemies (parasitoids) of the mealy bug in six affected countries of West and Central Africa.
Target groups Primary beneficiaries are potentially millions of family farmsaffected by the outbreak of the papaya mealy bug. Papaya, avocado, jatropha and cassava farmers are particularly targeted, but urban producers and sellers of ornamental plants will also benefit through higher production and income and better quality products from the control of the papaya mealy bug. The project will furthermore empower local scientists, extension agents and plant quarantine staff by enhancing their capacities and strengthening (research) infrastructure for responding to future threats by destructive and invasive species in a timely manner.
Medium-term outcomes
Effective control and permanent management of papaya mealy bug pest outbreaks in target countries (Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameron and Gabon) by releasing parasitoids (natural enemies) of the mealy bug.
National plant quarantine services, scientists and field extension agents are enabled to deal better with future outbreaks.
Results Results from previous phases: No previous phases. However, the project builds upon IITA’s successes in biological control against several similar pests in the same target countries (e.g. cassava green mite campaign). |
