National conference titled "Sustainable Management & Control of Fruit Fly Infestation" have recommended the usage of advanced biotechnological techniques including sterile insect technique, release of insects carrying a dominant lethal and sterile-male incompatible insect technique to engineer fruit fly for effective control.
The conference was arranged by US Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, University of Agriculture Faisalabad and the Department of Entomology, UAF at New Senate Hall. Agricultural experts also recommended creating awareness about fruit fly and beneficial insects at all levels using different media sources.
They also suggested that by involving the insect chemical ecology, we can combat the issue of fruit fly in a unique way. They said that establishment of common hot water quarantine treatment facilities in major mango cluster would help control it.
Addressing on the occasion, UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the university would conduct a commissioned research on fruit fly to overcome the disease.
He said that the government was taking measures in the national agricultural policy to address the issue whereas the Punjab Agri policy was also being mapped out. It will result in providing the solution to fight the pest. USPCAS Chief Dr Bashir Ahmad called for increasing the per acre production to feed the increasing population. He said the control of diseases was prerequisite to increase the productivity.