Area Wide Control Program (AWCP)

Area Wide Control Program (AWCP) - for highly practical and efficient Fruit Fly Control.

 

AWCP is developed as an integrative system for efficient Fruit Fly Control (FFC) in large areas and, as such, it includes several stages – integrative layers – of action to take place and performed to achieve the required results with high standards of FFC.

 

How we implement AWCP?

Each subsystem is organized through close collaborations amongst stakeholders including Ecoman Biotech (EB), the local government, the farmers and the local plant protection agencies. EB provides the effective products for monitoring and control, with proper training and technical support. The local governments provide aid fund as incentive for encouraging the farmers joining the scheme. The farmers pay partial cost for the initial control and the local plant protection agents oversee the bait application and evaluate the result.

 

In order to understand why we need AWCP, we must first need to understand the Fruit Fly (FF) population dynamics.

Understanding the FF population dynamics = Better controlling the fruit fly.

The factors that determine the right time for control of the Fruit Fly are:

l                      Fruit Fly Structure & Biology

l                      Climate & Temperature

l                      Feeding Habits and Food types.

 

After we understand all these complexes about FF dynamics, we can move on to the area of control:

One of the main requirements for an Area Wide Control Program – other than a wide area – is a unified plot, meaning that a FF control program designed for large areas works better and assures positive results when the crops in the plot are of one main crop (i.e. mango), and there aren’t any barriers (such as fences per several acres etc.) within the control area. It doesn't mean that if there are more than one crop type in a given area then an effective FF control can't be achieved - its simply to state that a unified plot is more recommended to handle the FF.

 

Q: Why is it so important/recommended, for efficient FFC, to have a unified plot with the same crop?

 

A: Because, in a large area with the same fruit kind the timing and other dynamics of the FF will be measured and known more clearly and much more accurately, resulting in better FF control for the entire area; whereas in a smaller plot, or even a large plot but with too many assorted crops and fruits, it will be much harder to accurately assess and know the control timing of the FF, because different types of FF may come and go from the orchard at different intervals, making it much more difficult to monitor and control.

 

Q: Why we should have a big area for effective FF control?

A: When we don’t try to control the FF, or trying but ineffectively, the FF population density will be pretty much the same in all areas and probably year-round. The tree density helps to determine the relative amount of FF in different areas which share the same characteristics.

 

Q: What if we try to do FF control in only a small area, out of a larger area that has all FF infestation?

A: When we use it the first few times, the FF will be killed. But after the first rounds, the other FF will come and will still lay eggs.

l    That is why a control bait does not suit a small area, out of a bigger area infested with FF.

l     In a large area, the FF don’t need to fly long distances to find a food source - they could still fly a very short distance for food and egg-laying; thus having a larger area scheme allow us to better monitor and control the FF propagation cycle.

l   When control is done in one big area, then the spraying times and spray amount to be used could be significantly reduced, because the FF would be attracted to the surrounding of the orchard as well – which are also treated – and still be controlled. If the bait is stopped in one area, then there will still be a “hole in the system” – the FF could still survive.

 

Now we can better assess and answer why we need an AWCP for effective FFC:

 

l      AWCP takes into account all factors for efficient FF control (as shown in the topics above).

l   AWCP is a working and proven method through years of field studies and project results as the most successful integrative approach in controlling the FF - which includes all the crucial variables at different stages (saving spray, saving water, saving time, saving labor and money).

l       AWCP is designed to provide a workable solution to some of the barriers that exist in other IPM methods.

l     Many trials we perform have proven that control for FF in big area translates to reduced total financial investment to be will be smaller and lower, while results and profits will maximize themselves.

l        The fruit damage rates will be reduced significantly to very low levels.

l     With an AWCP – compared to traditional ways for promoting materials - the trial cases are the best promoter for any end-user, showing that they can control the FF using the AWCP methods; that they can learn from this case as a fact that it works. and keep doing it because of the positive results.

l   AWCP takes into account the environmental implications of using any form of pesticide. This way is more environmentally responsible in its methods and its use of resources and application techniques.

l      Because an entire industry can benefit by the substantial reduction rates in synthetic agrochemical usage and much higher quality level. Resulting in an industry wide benefits by applying and using the right system with the right methods.