Subtropical Fruit Survey – 2024

Please help us by quickly completing this short multiple-select questionnaire.

We are seeking to understand the impact of fruit fly pests including the invasive Bactrocera dorsalis (Bd), Oriental fruit fly, on production of avocado, litchi and mango in South Africa.

This 20-question survey will take at most 10 minutes of your time to complete.

Thank you for your participation in this study. Before you start the survey, please take note of the following:

This survey is intended for adults aged 18 and above
Your responses are anonymous
Your responses will be kept confidential and used solely for research purposes

By participating, you confirm that you are 18 years and above and give consent to participate in the survey.

Section I: Production characteristics

1. In which province(s) do you operate?(Required)

Eastern Cape Province

Free State Province

Gauteng Province

KwaZulu-Natal Province

Limpopo Province

Mpumalanga Province

North-West Province

Northern Cape Province

Western Cape Province

2. What is your role in the industry?(Required)

Consultant

Crop protection agent

Producer

Technical manager

Other, please specify

2a. Other Role

Please specify

3. How many PUC's(Required)

How many Production Unit Codes (PUCs) do you operate (e.g if you are a consultant or crop protection and you operate across different production units, provide the total number of PUCs)

4. Size of your production units?(Required)

What is the size of your production units, on average?

≤30 ha

30-49 ha

50-99 ha

100-149 ha

150-199 ha

≥200 ha

5. Estimate on the composition

Provide an estimate on the composition of your production unit. (Dropdown list)

	0%	10%	20%	30%	40%	50%	60%	70%	80%	90%	100%
Avocados
Litchis
Mangoes
Other (e.g Non-subtropical fruit production)

Hidden

5a. Composition of your production unit - Grapes

Provide an estimate on the composition of your production unit for Grapes

Hidden

5b. Composition of your production unit - Other fruit

Provide an estimate on the composition of your production unit for Other Fruit

6. Average fruit production volume(Required)

Estimate the average fruit production volume for a full-bearing equivalent hectare on the production unit(s)?

<10 tonnes per ha

10-15 tonnes per ha

15-25 tonnes per ha

25-35 tonnes per ha

>35 tonnes per ha

Section II: Pest monitoring and control

7. Importance of insect pests

Can you rank the importance of insect pests on your production unit(s)? The ranking is from top to Bottom with the Top being the most important to Bottom the least important. The first three rankings are compulsory.

Beetle
Fruit fly
Mealybug
Moths
Scales
Thrips
Others

Hidden

7a. Can you identify the MOST important insect pests on your production unit(s)?(Required)

Beetle

Fruit fly

Mealybug

Moths

Scales

Thrips

Others

Hidden

7b. Can you identify the SECOND MOST important insect pests on your production unit(s)?(Required)

Not already selected

Beetle

Fruit fly

Mealybug

Moths

Scales

Thrips

Others

Hidden

7c. Can you identify the THIRD MOST important insect pests on your production unit(s)?(Required)

Not already selected

Beetle

Fruit fly

Mealybug

Moths

Scales

Thrips

Others

8. Percentage damage(Required)

Estimate the percentage damage (including losses on farm and packhouse level) due to fruit flies on the production unit(s)

1-3%

4-6%

7-10%

10%

Do not know

9. Cost of monitoring pests(Required)

What is the estimated/approximate proportional cost of monitoring and control of pests as a function/share of your direct production costs?

<5%

5-10%

11-15%

16-20%

>20%

Do not know

10. Cost of monitoring fruit flies(Required)

What is the estimated/ approximate proportional cost of monitoring and control of fruit flies as a function/share of pest control costs?

<15%

16-25%

26-35%

36-45%

>45%

11. Impact of fruit fly(Required)

In your opinion, what is the impact of fruit fly control practices on either non pests or beneficial (natural enemies of pests or bees) in the production unit(s)?

Negligible

Moderate

High

Do not know

Section III: Fruit flies (Medfly and Natal fly)

12. What control methods do you use?(Required)

12. What control methods do you use for Medfly and other local fruit fly pests e.g Natal fly? (select all applicable)

Bait sprays

Bait stations

Cover sprays

Orchard sanitation

Sterile Insect Technique

Male targeted control (e.g attract and kill such as LastcallFF)

Other, please specify

Do not know

Hidden

12.Control method - Other

Please specify

13. Effectiveness of Fruitfly cortrols

Can you rank the effectiveness of the fruit fly control methods on the production unit(s)? The ranking is from Top to Bottom with Top being most effective and Bottom being least effective. The first three rankings are compulsory.

Bait sprays
Bait stations
Cover sprays
Orchard sanitation
Male targeted control (e.g attract and kill such as LastcallFF)
Sterile Insect Technique

Hidden

13a. Can you indicate the MOST effective fruit fly control method on your production units?(Required)

Bait sprays

Bait stations

Cover sprays

Orchard sanitation

Sterile Insect Technique

Male targeted control (e.g attract and kill such as LastcallFF)

Hidden

13b. Can you indicate the SECOND MOST effective fruit fly control method on your production units?(Required)

Not previously selected.

Bait sprays

Bait stations

Cover sprays

Orchard sanitation

Sterile Insect Technique

Male targeted control (e.g attract and kill such as LastcallFF)

Hidden

13b. Can you indicate the THIRD MOST effective fruit fly control method on your production units?(Required)

Not previously selected.

Bait sprays

Bait stations

Cover sprays

Orchard sanitation

Sterile Insect Technique

Male targeted control (e.g attract and kill such as LastcallFF)

14. How long do you control fruit flies?(Required)

In a season, for how long do you control fruit flies on the production unit

None

<3 months

3-6 months

Throughout the year

Do not know

Section IV: Bactrocera dorsalis (Bd) or Oriental fruit fly

15. Is Bd present in the production unit(s)?(Required)

If Yes, proceed to 16-20; If No, proceed to 18-20

Yes

16. Damage to your subtropical fruit?

Has damage to your subtropical fruit increased after the establishment of Bd?

No significant change

Increased slightly

Increased moderately

Increased significantly

Decreased slightly

Decreased moderately

Decreased significantly

Do not know

17. Control methods used on the production unit(s)

What control methods are being used on the production unit(s) for Bd? (select all applicable)

Bait sprays

Bait stations

Cover sprays

MAT Blocks

Orchard sanitation

Other, please specify

None

Do not know

18. Would you consider using SIT?(Required)

If Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is developed for Bd, would you consider using it? If Yes, proceed to 19; If No, proceed to 20

Yes, even if more expensive than current control and monitoring

Yes, only if cheaper than or similar to current control and monitoring

19. If Yes, what are the considerations

If yes, what are the main considerations (select all relevant) affecting your decision?

Environmental impact

Economic impact

Certification impact

Improved efficacy

Other, please specify

19. Other please specify

20. If no, what are your main reasons?