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Eggplant Fruit and Shoot Borer in Seychelles
The Eggplant fruit and shoot borer (EFSB), Leucinodes orbonalis, is the most damaging pest of eggplant in South and South-east Asia. Its larvae feed inside the eggplant fruit rendering the fruit unmarketable and unfit for human consumption. In certain cases EFSB infestation can lead to total yield loss.The presence of EFSB here in Seychelles was first reported in 2008 by local farmers on Praslin. To date, the origin of the pest and its infestation is still unknown. The pest spreaded to the neighboring islands of La Digue in 2009 and was first detected on Mahe in June 2011. Since its first detection and confirmation of EFSB infestations on Praslin, various sections of the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) has been actively involved in order to help farmers control the pest to ensure the continuous production of eggplant in the country.
In-depth articles
Gamour: long-lasting protection against vegetable flies in Réunion
The Gamour project, (Agroecological Management of Vegetable Flies in Reunion), is a pilot project for innovation transfer to farmers, begun by the CIRAD and coordinated by the Chamber of Agriculture. The project was a partnership between a dozen research organizations, and ran from 2009 to 2011. The results of the project were announced at a seminar in St-Pierre on 21-24 November.
Testimonials
Interview with Badroudine Ali, agricultural technician with NGO Dahari
Badroudine Ali (known simply as Badrou) is an agricultural technician with Dahari, an NGO based in the Comoros islands near Madagascar. Since early 2012, Badrou has been working in Adda, a village situated on the edge of the Nioumakele region on the island of Anjouan. Since he arrived there, he has worked to improve local agricultural practices and has helped re-establish crops in many previously abandoned fields.
News
DSMC to be used on the Comorian island of Anjouan
MoreAlthough DSMC is still not used by Comoros farmers, direct seeding mulch-based cropping (DSMC) is about to be trialed on the island of Anjouan by Dahari, an NGO, which hopes to replicate the results obtained in Madagascar, where the technique has been widely used for 10 years.
Varietal selection to be used in the fight against cassava mosaic disease
MoreCassava is very popular with the people of the Comoros, who consume its leaves and tubers. However, cassava production is currently threatened by mosaic disease. The disease appeared in the 90s, spreading easily from one plant to another. It causes yellowing and loss of leaves and stunts growth in tubers.
Producing agricultural raw material in Madagascar
MoreWhile Agricultural Cooperatives will be in the spotlight for World Food Day on 16th October, the Regional Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives (FRCA) in Réunion is calling for a show of interest to assess a feasibility study for the production of agricultural raw material in Madagascar.