Fourth Steering Committee Meeting and Fruit Fly Project Review (November 2000)

The Project on Regional Management of Fruit Flies in the Pacific (RMFFP) introduced the use of Steering Committee Meetings to allow country representatives to get together regularly, formally assess progress in Project implementation and provide recommendations on priority activities to be carried out for the next 6 -12 months.  The Steering Committee draws two representatives from each of the four sub-regional groups:  1. Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu;  2. Fiji Islands, Tonga, Samoa, American Samoa, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, Cook Islands;  3. Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Palau and Nauru;  4. French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna.  At each meeting, different countries are selected to represent and report achievements, current activities and needs for their sub-regions.  The meetings are also attended by representatives from FAO, AusAID, UNDP, New Zealand Embassy, and SPC.  A representative from Fiji Islands Government, host country to the meetings, usually chairs the meeting. 

The Fourth and last Steering Committee Meeting of the FAO/AusAID/UNDP/SPC Project on Regional Management of Fruit Flies in the Pacific (RMFFP) took place at the Raffles Gateway Hotel in Nadi, Fiji Islands, on November 21-23, 2000.  The meeting was combined with the Tripartite Review of the Project, a requirement of UNDP.  A comprehensive report was compiled and handed to the participants before the meeting.  Two external reviewers were invited to attend the combined meeting: Dr. Gordon Hooper (private consultant from Australia) and Dr. Roger Vargas (research scientist, USDA-ARS Pacific Basin Agriculture Research Center, Hilo, Hawaii).  The report from the two reviewers was produced separately. 

The participants who attended the combined meeting were representatives from donor agencies (UNDP and AusAID attended; NZODA was unable to attend), the executing agency (SPC Plant Protection Service), the implementing agency, until 30 April 2000 (FAO), the external reviewers, a consultant resource person (Allan Allwood, Chief Technical Advisor of the Project until 30 April 2000), and representatives from the four sub-regions: Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Fiji Islands (host country represented by the chairman of the meeting), Kiribati, Palau (could not attend), Nauru, Cook Islands and American Samoa. 

The main purposes of the combined meeting were to:

• Assess progress of the project since the Third Steering Committee Meeting in February 2000.
• Make recommendations on future activities to carry out in relation to the work plan developed in October 2000.
• Carry out an overall review of the Phase 3 of the Fruit Fly Project (RMFFP, May 1997 to December 2000).
• Introduce to participants the Pest Management in the Pacific Project into which fruit fly activities will be, by January 2001, fully integrated as "Component 2: Fruit Fly Management".

Reporting and discussion centered around six broad themes, or strategic objectives, which cut across different objectives and outputs of the RMFFP Project Document:

• Protection of Horticulture: quarantine surveillance, emergency response planning, eradication programs.
• Increased Production: protein bait spraying, fruit bagging, brewery waste yeast modification, socio-economic study.
• Enhanced Trade: removal of trade constraints, forced hot air technology, non-host status, export markets.
• Improved Technical Capacities: training, laboratory establishment and refurbishment.
• Information: status reports, WEB site, Pest Advisory Leaflets, other publications.
• Management Issues: collaboration with partner organizations, financial statement, steering committee meetings, Solomon Islands programme, Junior Scientific Officer (JSO) concept.

The following reports from the Steering Committee meeting and the Project review are available in PDF format (see note below on PDF): 

Report from the Fourth Steering Committee Meeting (98 Kb)

Report from the External Reviewers (62 Kb)

Terminal Technical Report of the Project on Regional Management of Fruit Flies in the Pacific (1997-2000):

Executive Summary (63 Kb)
Main Report (114 Kb)
Quarantine surveillance status in each country (17 Kb)
Project Assessment for UNDP (32 Kb)
Recommendations from previous meetings (28 Kb)
Progress reports (1997-2000) (104 Kb)
Bibliography (21 Kb)

Recommendations from the Fourth Steering Committee Meeting and from the Project Review are included below:

 

The fourth Steering Committee meeting recommended that:

 

Management Issues:

RMFFP/FFM to continue to provide assistance in technical backstopping for the proposed activities for 2001 in PICTs, as reflected in the work plan for 2001.

Having considered the draft Work plan for 2001 and recommendations of this meeting on 21-23 November, 2000, the RMFFP Steering Committee endorses the work plan and recommends that the balance of funds for RMFFP 2000 be carried over into 2001, and that the provision made by UNDP of USD100,000 be used to support the projected work plan for FFM 2001.

To improve regional communication for Steering Committee Meeting, there should be meetings to discuss fruit fly issues with participants whenever they attend other sub-regional trainings or meetings. In addition, the SPC-RMFFP/FFM to co-ordinate the collection of reports from PICTs where there are communication difficulties and distribute to the sub-regional representatives prior to Steering Committee Meetings.

Protection of Horticulture:

RMFFP/FFM to assist the re-establishment of the Quarantine Surveillance systems in Western Province in Solomon Islands to detect Asian papaya fruit fly and other exotic fruit flies.

RMFFP/FFM to actively encourage and assist Wallis and Futuna to maintain their Quarantine Surveillance programme.

PNG, with technical assistance from RMFFP/FFM, rationalize and review the trapping system, justifying the proposed sites based on quarantine risk.

PICTs to adopt the presence/absence method for recording trapping data, instead of counting all flies from each sample, in their surveillance systems and Vanuatu to provide a model form used for this activity.

RMFFP/FFM and FAO to provide assistance to carry out host fruit surveying and trapping in Christmas Island and other Line Islands, and Phoenix Islands Group in Kiribati to confirm the absence of exotic fruit flies and to determine fruit fly fauna present.

PICT Governments and Administrations assume the financial responsibility for national quarantine surveillance programmes as soon as possible, with technical support from the RMFFP/FFM and other major partners.

SPC, in consultation with national Departments of Agriculture, actively promotes the raising of the priority of Agricultural Disasters, created by the incursion of exotic fruit flies and other pests, to the same level of importance as that of Natural Disasters and that Agricultural Disasters be incorporated into the national Natural Disaster programmes to ensure adequate funding is available, when required.

Nauru eradication program should continue until end of 2000. A review to decide on continuing or stopping the eradication shall be conducted in early 2001 (January).

RMFFP/FFM to assist in the planning and implementation of the Palau Eradication Program.

RMFFP/FFM to assist Tuvalu and Tokelau carry out collection of more specimens through host surveying to confirm the taxonomic identity of species in the B. passiflorae complex.

SPC to carry out a pest risk analysis to quantify the risk of entry of fruit flies into selected PICTs and to produce a video on the risk and impact of entry of exotic fruit flies to sensitize the government and the public.

Increased Production:

RMFFP/FFM to promote the adoption of an integrated approach to fruit fly control including crop sanitation, bagging, protein bait spraying, conservation of parasitoids and area wide suppression in PICTs.

RMFFP/FFM to facilitate the use of Fipronil and other insecticides alternative to Malathion in collaboration with Aventis CropScience (Australia) and PBARC and to obtain information on the costs of Bactrogel and BactroMAT.

Enhanced Trade:

RMFFP/FFM to facilitate through SPC PPPO or otherwise, the negotiation for use of Non-Host Status and Forced Hot Air Treatments for exports of fresh produce to Australia, USA and Japan.

RMFFP/FFM to provide assistance for rearing of fruit fly species that are difficult to rear in PNG (melon fly), Cook Is (B. melanotus), Tonga (B. kirki), and other countries where requested.

RMFFP/FFM to provide advise and information on cold treatments and recommendations for alternative post-harvest treatments for in-country trade in French Polynesia.

Improved Technical Capacities: 

PICTs to continue to carry out refresher training on fruit fly management for Extension, Quarantine and Plant Protection staff, due to the turn-over of national staff. RMFFP/FFM to provide technical backstopping for this training, whenever requested.

Sub-regional training on fruit fly management to be held for Micronesian countries and territories, particularly Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and attachment training for American Samoa and Samoa on fruit fly management and protein bait spraying techniques, respectively.

Information: 

SPC to facilitate the introduction of plant protection school manual to school curriculum in other PICTs.

RMFFP/FFM to revive negotiations on the access to the Database on fruit flies in the PICTs, which is currently held by QDPI for PICTs. There is a need to match the data in the Database and those existing in the PICTs. A letter of agreement with Griffith University should be made for the release of data on fruit flies in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea kept by the University.

PICTs be encouraged to deposit National reports on Agriculture, plant protection and fruit flies in the SPC Library with authorization on accessibility for all PICTs.

RMFFP/FFM liaises with Prof. Drew of Griffith University, Brisbane, to encourage the completion and prompt publication of the taxonomic descriptions of the species of fruit flies in the Pacific region in the passiflorae, xanthodes and musae complexes.

RMFFP/FFM to provide a list of contacts of people working in fruit fly programs in PICTs and also the list of suppliers of fruit fly related equipment and supplies. These lists should also be sent to the Heads of Agriculture in PICTs as well as fruit fly workers.

 

The external reviewers (Dr. Gordon Hooper and Dr. Roger Vargas) recommended that:

 

1. That the technical, managerial and financial control structure that was adopted in the RMFFP project (RAS/97/331) and its predecessor projects RAS/90/004 and RAS/93/300, and FAO Technical Cooperation Projects, where control was vested in the Chief Technical Adviser, be adopted in PMP/FFM program. We hold this view because we believe this organisational structure was a significant contributing factor to the objectives of the program being met in an effective and timely manner.
   
2. That PMP/FFM and SPC actively encourage all PICTs to continue to support fully their activities in quarantine surveillance and fruit fly research, and the regional approach to the control of fruit flies in the Pacific region.
   
3. That PMP/FFM closely monitor the state of the quarantine surveillance systems in PNG and the Solomon Islands, and provide additional financial and or technical assistance should that be necessary.
   
4. That PMP/FFM encourage those PICTs that have not yet done so to assume responsibility for quarantine surveillance.
   
5. That a technical assessment of the current state of the Nauru fruit fly eradication campaign be undertaken in January 2001 in order to determine whether the attempt to eradicate Bactrocera frauenfeldi should continue.
   
6. That PMP/FFM continue to pursue the possibility of eradicating Bactrocera dorsalis from Palau.
   
7. That PMP/FFM continue to support the eradication programs against Bactrocera dorsalis, B. tryoni, and B. xanthodes in French Polynesia.
   
8. That PMP/FFM continue to evaluate the possibility of eradication of Bactrocera cucurbitae in Guam and CNMI by male annihilation and protein hydrolysate treatments.
   
9. That to ensure current and potential importing countries have confidence in the quarantine procedures implemented by each PICT, these be audited from time to time by an appropriate organisation.
   
10. That in order to expand export opportunities for fruits and/or vegetables PMP/FFM assist PICTs in establishing a formal dialogue with appropriate authorities of potential importing countries to establish their requirements for host free status and disinfestation.
    
11. That there be increased extension activity aimed at promoting control of fruit flies at three levels of production: (i) bagging at the village or backyard level, (ii) bagging and protein bait spraying at the small landholder/semi-commercial level, and (iii) bagging and protein bait spraying at the commercial level. At the commercial level this approach should evolve toward a Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach that includes: sanitation, bagging, protein bait spraying, male annihilation, and conservation or augmentation of natural enemies.
    
12. That PMP/FFM continue to collaborate with Aventis Crop Science (Australia) to expedite registration of fipronil in Australia as this should facilitate acceptance by the PICTs of fipronil for fruit fly control.
    
13. That PMP/FFM collaborate with extension officers in the PICTs to improve the dissemination of information on fruit fly control measures and the importance of quarantine surveillance. The PMP/FFM should provide training for extension officers and extension material to facilitate this activity.
    
14. That staff of PICTs be encouraged to publish in an appropriate format the data they have accumulated on fruit fly abundance, seasonal activity, host fruit records, natural enemies, etc.
    
15. That the Nauru eradication campaign, when completed, be written up and published in an appropriate scientific journal.
    
16. That training in the range of fruit fly monitoring and control activities, for both new and existing staff, be recognised as a continuing responsibility of PICTs; technical support for the activity should be provided by PMP/FFM.
    
17. That PMP/FFM provide further training in fruit fly control techniques to staff of Micronesian countries and territories.
    
18. That the RMFFP website (http://www.pacifly.org), the creation of which was a commendable initiative, be updated regularly to ensure that all PICTs view it as a valuable resource.
    
19. That the PMP/FFM, in association with ACIAR funded projects, consolidate the data relating to all aspects of the fruit fly projects which currently exist in several computerised data bases into one 'user friendly' database in a Pacific location (eg SPC), and that protocols governing access to the data base be developed and agreed to by all parties, namely SPC, ACIAR, Griffith University, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and the national Governments and Administrations.
    
20. That Professor Drew be approached about the need for taxonomic revisions of the Bactrocera xanthodes, B. passiflorae and B. musae complexes.
    
21. That the fruit fly fauna of Christmas Island and the Phoenix Islands be investigated.

 

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(Note that the reports are in Portable Document File (PDF) format. They may be downloaded and examined with Adobe Acrobat Reader program, which may be obtained for free by contacting: http://www.adobe.com/ )

 

Page updated on: 17 October, 2002