Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply is to invest BRL128 million (US$34 million) in its national fruit fly control program, amid estimates the pest is costing farmers US$120 million each year.

The ministry said growers faced the biggest problems in the states of Roraima, Pará and Amapá, as well as the Sao Francisco Valley and the southern region, where the most common species are Ceratitis capitata, Anastrepha obliqua, Anastrepha fraterculus and Anastrepha grandis.

The pests affect many Brazilian crops, including guava, grape, citrus, mango, papaya, apple, peach, pear, melon, watermelon and pumpkin.

The fruit fly control program will include risk mitigation systems, certification programs, and eradication. An additional BRL6 million (US$1.5 million) will also be used for a sub-program to eliminate the carambola fruit fly.

The ministry emphasized that while fruit fly did not affect human health, it did affect prices for consumers.

"If a farmer produces 100 kilograms and loses 30kg to this pest, they will have to sell the fruit at a higher price to pay their costs," it said.

"As for exports, products are not accepted for fear that fruit fly might invade the orchards of other countries.

"We have to fight against this pest to boost domestic consumption and be able to export these products to the rest of the world."

The program aims to establish international control policy monitoring pests in Guyana, French Guiana, Suriname, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, and includes a permanent surveillance at ports and airports in the affected regions in order to manage the risk of outbreaks.

The ministry also intends to reduce the Mediterranean fruit fly population.

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