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Exports of West African mangoes to the European market rose by 40%, while interceptions of shipments fell by 57%, according to data from the Fruit Fly Management Project.

Burkina Faso: Mango growers "taste" the achievements of the Mouches de Fruits project.

Ten West African countries are implementing this project between 2015 and 2019. It was designed to combat the scourge of fruit flies. The project's stakeholders met at the end of July 2019 in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, to reflect on the results achieved and draw lessons for the future.

Some 1.5 million tonnes of mangoes are produced in West Africa every year, representing around 4% of world production.

Despite being an important source of income for countries and exporters, the region's horticultural sector is affected by the fruit fly. It destroys between 50 and 80% of mango production.

In addition, post-harvest losses are between 50 and 80%, meaning that less than 100,000 tonnes of fresh mangoes are exported and around 50,000 tonnes are processed locally each year.

"The economies of West African mango-producing and exporting countries have suffered substantial losses as a result of the interception of mango exports," says Cheikh Ngane, Chairman of Senegal's National Fruit Fly Control Committee.

A reversal of trends

Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo took part in the implementation of the Fruit Fly project. A total of 23.5 million euros was invested in the project by the European Union, the French Development Agency, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the beneficiary states. The West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) was responsible for the adaptive research component.

At the Dakar meeting, ECOWAS listed the project's achievements and how it has contributed to exporters' livelihoods.

"The implementation of the project has improved producers' incomes, set up a regional monitoring system and strengthened producers' capacities," said Mr. Alain Sy Traoré, ECOWAS Director of Agriculture.

"The project has also provided farmers with technologies to prevent fly infections. This enables timely, targeted and environmentally friendly action."

In Burkina Faso, mango professionals recorded fewer interceptions and destruction of their exports to the European market. Only eight confiscations were recorded in 2018, compared with 23 in 2017.

Mango exports have risen by 115% in Burkina Faso, according to the Association des producteurs de mangues du Burkina Faso (APROMAB). Meanwhile, around 8,500 tonnes of dried and fresh mangoes were exported in 2018, compared with 7,000 tonnes in 2017.

Senegal, less affected by fruit fly attacks, has seen its mango exports rise from 350 tonnes in 1999 to around 22,000 tonnes in 2018.

See also: CORAF tackles fruit flies to save millions of mango losses

See also: Killing fruit flies with food baits