Regional Mediterranean fruit fly control project for Northern Africa

Agency for International Development (USAID) was asked to help develop and implement a medlfy control program in Northern Africa. Goals were to: show that sterile male insect release techniques would work under Northern African conditions; and train personnel to carry on the program. USAID contracted with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct the project on a regional basis in Tunisia and Morocco. The regional project complemented work done previously by consultants and bilateral projects. Three season"s field experience and modification of procedures were needed to achieve adequate control in a Tunisian test area. Results were sufficiently promising that an economic study of feasibility and further development of technology were recommended. The project in Morocco was prematurely terminated at the request of the Moroccan government, based on evaluations of current medfly control measures and losses, and priorities in use of resources.