Joint Research Proves Export-grade Mangoes Free of Fly Bacteria

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A joint research conducted by the Padjadjaran University’s West Java Development Institute (INJABAR UNPAD) and the Agriculture Ministry’s Agriculture Quarantine Agency found that mangoes grown in Indonesia are free from fruit fly bacteria. 

The university’s Professor of pharmaceutical faculty Keri Lestari said UNPAD and the Ministry researched 2,800 fruit flies that often perch on mangos, Antaranews reported. 

“We should no longer fear, moreover panic about exports, in this case to Japan,” said Keri on Wednesday, September 7.

According to Keri, Bactrocera occipitalis is only found in the wilderness areas of North Kalimantan. There, the fly landed on just a few mangoes. Meanwhile, mango products in Indonesia are free from bacteria and are high-yielding varieties ready for export.

This research was conducted many years ago by involving various parties including several agribusiness companies and the Ministry of Agriculture. 

"From all the research we have done, there are about 2,800 fruit flies that we have studied. As a result, 14 fruit flies are suspected of being Bactrocera. And that too is found in the Tarakan forest and far from settlements. In terms of numbers, there are not many," she added.

"There is no need to worry because there is a process in quarantine for all fruit and vegetable products. This means that there are quite strict rules for moving goods from Kalimantan to Java. Of course, we hope that the process of exporting our mangoes to Japan goes well," said Lestari.

Indonesia ranks fifth in the world’s mango producers after India, China, Thailand, and Mexico. In 2018, mango production in Indonesia even reached 2.1 million tons.

ANTARA

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