The provincial Department of Agriculture has allocated R2 million (€98,000) to the Citrus Growers Association (CGA) to further the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) program targeting the False Codling Moth (FCM), a notable phytosanitary issue for export crops including citrus, grapes, and stone fruit. This financial backing marks a pivotal move towards broadening the application of an innovative pest control strategy, essential for adhering to the international export criteria. The implementation of SIT in the Western Cape aims at bolstering the citrus sector's export income, job creation, and rural community development, while minimizing the use of chemical pesticides and enhancing fruit quality.
SIT employs advanced scientific methods, breeding FCM populations which are then sterilized using Cobalt-60 radiation, and released to mate, resulting in non-viable eggs and a subsequent decrease in pest numbers. Initiated in Citrusdal in 2005, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the program's success led to the establishment of X Sterile Insect Technique (X-SIT), which now oversees its operations. Spanning 20,400 ha, there are ambitions to extend the program to over 40,000 ha, contingent on sufficient financial support to maintain and expand this initiative for producing high-quality, residue-free fruit for export.
Source: news24.com