As part of the activities of Entrepreneurship and Creativity Week, the Department of Plant Protection at the College of Agriculture, University of Karbala, organized a training course entitled
“Fruit Flies, Their Impact on Agriculture and the Environment, and Modern Control Strategies.”
The course was delivered by Professor Dr. Ali Abdul Hussein Karim, Lecturer Dr. Karrar Abdul Zahra, and Engineer Raad Karim Mujbil.
The course addressed the seriousness of fruit flies as one of the most dangerous agricultural pests worldwide, as they attack more than 50 species of fruits and vegetables, causing severe economic losses that may reach up to 100% of production in some cases.
The lecturers also pointed out that the peach fruit fly (Bactrocera zonata) and the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) are among the most widespread and impactful species in Iraq.
They explained that integrated pest management (IPM) of fruit flies is based on three main pillars: monitoring and surveillance using traps, legislation and agricultural quarantine, and control measures of various types including cultural, physical, chemical, and biological methods, in addition to insect sterilization techniques.
The course concluded by emphasizing the importance of integrating efforts between academic institutions, field authorities, and farmers to limit the spread of this pest and enhance agricultural awareness, contributing to the preservation of food security and supporting sustainable agricultural development pathways in Iraq.
