“Key Informant Survey” of Production, Value, Losses and ... - DfID

Table I.2. Subjectively-derived synthesis estimates of percentage losses to fruit flies, with
and without controls, from the currently incomplete survey of sources presented in Table
I.4. (Moringa fruit fly losses are included although this species is a Drosophilid, not
Tephritid, pest).
Host Untreated Treated
Gourds (various) 40 5
Cucumber 35 5
Melon 40 10
Moringa 30 5
Mango 20 3
Sapota 30 5
Phalsa 50 10
Jujube 30 3
Guava (summer) 40 10
Economic Losses
The synthesis of production data and loss estimates allow a preliminary attempt at
quantification of economic losses. This is given for some of the most important tree fruit in Table I.3.
Table I.3. Production, loss and cost estimates for fruit flies in India for selected tree fruits
for 1999. Production statistics are from Negi et al. (2000a). Price statistics are from Negi et
al. (2000b), as wholesale prices, averaged over the major markets (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata,
Chennai, Bangalore) weighted for tonnage marketed annually (except guava, estimated by
the author). Percentage loss estimates are from Table I.4, except those for citrus, taken
from Pakistan estimates by Stonehouse et al. (1998). Assumed exchange rate is
Rs68=GB£1. Estimated annual loss totals, for these four fruits, were Rs 29460 million or
£433 million.
Value (1999) Mango Citrus Guava Sapota Totals
Production ('000MT) 9782 3707 1801 668 15958
Price (Rs 000/MT) 12.7 13.8 9.5 10.1
Value (Rs million) 124231 51156.6 17109.5 6746.8 199244
Value (£ million) 1827 752 251 99 2930
Loss- untreated (%) 20 15 40 30
Loss - treated (%) 3 3 10 5
Treated area (%) 35 35 35 35
Loss - untreated (Rs million) 16150 4988 4448 1316 26902
Loss - treated (Rs million) 1304 537 599 118 2558
Loss - total (Rs million) 17454 5525 5047 1434 29460
Loss - total (£ million) 257 81 74 21 433
It can be seen from the sketchy nature of the above analysis that many figures are unknown –
particularly in host production, pest infestation and the level of practice of controls. The project’s
“Survey” component aims to address this.
Further Significance
Beyond these cash estimates are further aspects of importance: the very crops for which
production statistics do not exist are, because of their small-scale nature and small commercial
potential, of greatest significance for the poorest farmers, and for small farmers, the greatest fly
damage may be to cucurbits, attacked by B. cucurbitae and Dacus ciliatus. Anecdotal evidence
suggests that many small subsistence growers of staple crops such as rice and cereals, in a potential
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