NAHA, Mar 17 (News On Japan) –
Watermelon farmers have expressed issues over the potential affect of emergency pest management measures aimed toward stopping the unfold of the Segroulimibae fruit fly.
Sho Uema and his spouse, Izumiho, develop watermelons in Nakijin Village.
“There are likely concerns among those practicing open-field cultivation,” mentioned Uema. “Since 100% of the farmers in the cooperative produce watermelons in greenhouses, the risk is lower compared to open-field cultivation, but we still can’t let our guard down.”
Of the roughly 5,000 watermelons produced yearly on their farm, about 2,000 are shipped exterior Okinawa.
“About 80% of our customers are repeat buyers, and nearly 90% of them are from outside the prefecture,” Uema defined. “If shipping restrictions are imposed due to the fruit fly control measures, it would be a significant concern.”
In 2024, Nakijin Village farmers took precautionary steps to stop infestations by burying unsold watermelons and cucumbers suspected of carrying the Segroulimibae larvae.
The emergency pest management interval will run from April 14 to December 31, with the prefectural authorities accelerating preparations to launch artificially sterilized fruit flies into the wild to curb their copy.
“This countermeasure will likely involve the release of sterile insects, and I hope it will be effective,” mentioned Uema.
The Segroulimibae fruit fly poses a menace not solely to cucurbit crops like watermelons and cucumbers but in addition to a variety of different agricultural merchandise.
JA Okinawa Chairman Norio Maeda acknowledged, “We will work closely with relevant organizations to minimize the impact on agriculture and aim for an early lifting of the emergency pest control measures.”
Source: 沖縄ニュースOTV