Tehran - Iran has carried out Mediterranean fruit fly control operations across 225,545 hectares this year, with the campaign nearing completion in most provinces, a Plant Protection Organization official said.

 

Saeed Moein, director-general of the organization’s Office for Control of General and Widespread Pests, said chemical treatments covered 113,274 hectares, while non-chemical methods were used across 88,586 hectares.

 

“The campaign has been conducted in 14 provinces, including Mazandaran, Golestan, Gilan, Yazd, Fars and Kerman. Operations are almost complete nationwide, with limited, localized treatments continuing in southern regions and parts of Mazandaran and Golestan.”

 

Moein said timely intervention had helped keep the pest under control, with no damage reported in areas where control measures had been implemented. However, he warned that failure to remove infested fruit from orchards remained a major obstacle to effective pest management.

 

With the new growing season approaching, the necessary pest-control supplies have been secured, he said, urging orchard owners to follow expert advice and remove infested fruit to prevent the spread of both the Mediterranean fruit fly and the olive fruit fly.