The study aims to estimate the quantitative and qualitative losses caused by fruit fly infestation in orange crops, its economic impact at the national level in newly reclaimed lands, and farmers' knowledge and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM). It also identified challenges and proposed solutions to reduce infestation.
Results showed infestation rates of 20% for Abu Sora oranges and 18% for summer oranges, reducing acre productivity by 11% and 7%, respectively. Production losses were estimated at 3 tons per acre for Abu Sora and 2.3 tons per acre for summer oranges, with qualitative losses exceeding quantitative ones. Nationally, losses amounted to 123.6 thousand tons for Abu Sora and 226.4 thousand tons for summer oranges, wasting 11 thousand and 20.3 thousand acres, along with significant irrigation water losses. Economically, these losses reduced net agricultural income by 976.4 million EGP for Abu Sora and 1,449 million EGP for Summer oranges. Only 5.3% of farmers had high exposure to extension services, while 56.7% reported low benefits, highlighting the need for improved programs.
Regarding exports, 62% of farmers were neutral, and 28% had a positive attitude. The main barriers were failure to meet quality standards 88% and pesticide residues 85.3%. The primary causes of infestation included infections from neighbouring farms 89.3%, fallen fruit 83.3%, and weeds/snails 78.6%. study found that 47.3% of farmers had moderate IPM knowledge, while 46% had low implementation levels. Four key factors influencing IPM knowledge were export orientation, satisfaction with citrus farming, exposure to extension activities, and benefits from them, explaining 25.2% of total variance. Additionally, extension benefits, and export barriers accounted for 16.2% of the variance in implementing IPM practices.