Mango farmers trap fruit fly to open EU market

Francis Kiplagat, a mango farmer in Chemurgui, on his farm. He says the mangoes on his 50 acres used to drop and rot before maturity until Kenya Plant and Health Inspectorate Services gave them fruit fly traps that have been successful in killing male flies thus inhibiting their multiplication. [PHOTO: MICHAEL OLLINGA/standard]

Mango farmers are optimistic that their produce will this year be allowed into the European Union (EU) market.

For the past five years, the produce has not gained entry into the EU market after the Europeans imposed a ban on the use of a pesticide known as Dimethoate, which most local farmers were using to control the fruit fly infestation on their farms.