South Africa's agricultural sector includes the cultivation of various stone fruits such as peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, and cherries, with an annual production of approximately 350,000 tons. The Western Cape, known for its temperate climate, serves as the main region for stone fruit production, providing the necessary chilling hours for fruit development.
Insect pests pose challenges to stone fruit yield and quality, prompting producers to rely on chemical controls. However, the negative impacts of such methods include pest resistance, harm to non-target organisms, and environmental contamination. As a result, there is a shift towards incorporating biological control within integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.
Insectec, established in 2015 in Limpopo, stands as a prominent figure in the production and application of natural enemies for IPM, operating the largest insectary in the Southern Hemisphere. The company emphasizes sustainable pest management solutions.
According to Andriani Papa, Insectec's representative, South Africa's stone fruit producers face numerous pests that impact fruit development stages. She advocates for the integration of biological control with other strategies for sustainable orchard pest management. Predatory mites, parasitoid wasps, and entomopathogenic nematodes are among the biological control agents (BCAs) utilized in South Africa.
Biological control offers specificity, sustainability, and environmental benefits over chemical methods, contributing to soil health and biodiversity conservation. Economically, it can be cost-effective and enhance fruit marketability due to lower chemical residues.
Insectec supports producers with custom pest management plans, field monitoring, and scout training to optimize pest control strategies. Looking forward, advancements in biopesticides, genetic engineering, and IPM refinement hold promise for improving pest management and sustainability in agriculture.
Source: Farmer's Weekly