New fly ravages crops in Kenya

The Kenyan horticultural sector is on high alert after the discovery of a fly. This threatens the country's crops and exports of fresh produce. A fruit fly commonly known as spotted wing drosophila - Drosophila Suzukii - native to East and South Asia, was first identified in Kenya in March 2019 at one of Longonot's farms. The presence of the fly is very inconvenient. Indeed, it comes at a time when products from Kenya to Europe are facing tighter controls following the presence of certain quarantined pests in some of the agricultural crops, says Hortidaily. According to Benjamin Tito, CEO of Horticulture, “The pest is a major concern for horticulture because it is considered a threat to the production of berries, cherries, grapes and tomatoes and other fruits. Its presence leads to a loss of quality and poses significant problems in the production and trade of berries and other ...