Dragon fruit farming in South Africa is emerging as a viable horticultural opportunity. However, effective pest and disease management is essential to maintain yield quality and sustainability. RealIPM South Africa supports producers through science-based Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems tailored for dragon fruit.
The current practice of “no synthetic chemicals” allows local ladybirds to assist dragon fruit farmers in managing aphid populations.
Healthy dragon fruit plants produce a profitable crop.
What is IPM?
IPM is a long-term pest control strategy that integrates:
- Cultural practices (e.g., sanitation, canopy management)
- Soil health management
- Biological control agents
- Farm-specific planning based on local pest pressures
Benefits of IPM
- Resistance Management: Avoids over-reliance on single active ingredients.
- Sustainability: Preserves ecosystem services and beneficial insect populations.
- Economic Viability: Reduces input costs and export-related chemical compliance issues (MRL & PHI).
- Environmental Stewardship: Promotes safer agrochemical use and healthier soils.
Common Pests & IPM Recommendations
- Thrips (Thrips palmi): Use of Real Metarhizium 69 and predators such as Real Q-Fix, and Real OriFix.
- Mealybugs & Aphids: Encourage ant control and apply biological agents such as Real Metarhizium 69 for mealybugs or Bioneem, Neudosan or Pyrol for aphids.Beneficial insects such as Real ChrysoFIX for aphids, and Real CryptoFix for Mealybug are also an excellent option. If there is citrus mealybug, Real AnaFix and Real PermiFix can be utilised.
- Snails: Cultural practices and baiting where appropriate. Products such as Ferramol can be utilised as the pellets can be used in wet and dry.
- Nematodes: Rotate control products; avoid repeated nematicide use.
- Fungal Diseases: Alternaria and Phytophthora show resistance to fungicides and therefore integrated treatment is essential.
Overcoming IPM Challenges
- Education & Confidence: Many growers are unfamiliar with non-chemical solutions.
- Labour & Monitoring: Requires a proactive, hands-on management style – this should include comprehensive Scout training and in-field guidance
- Logistics: Coordination across farm activities is essential.
Dragon fruit are not immune to pest and disease damage; however, the damage can be limited below significant economic loss levels with an integrated and holistic pest & disease management approach.
Mealybug populations often develop in hotspots within dragon fruit orchards; this ecological attribute allows for the hotspot-target approach of using Real CryptoFIX (a high density feeder, especially on egg-sack producing mealybugs such as citrus mealybug,) to effectively control mealybugs before they spread throughout the orchard and cause economic losses.
Real IPM Services
Real IPM South Africa offers:
- Custom IPM planning
- Biological pest and disease solutions
- Scouting, diagnostics, and resistance management
- Soil health and fertility enhancements
A Shared Responsibility
Individual orchard sanitation contributes to regional pest control. In areas with dense fruit farming, if one orchard maintains sanitation while neighbouring farms do not, re-infestation is almost inevitable. Collaboration and consistency across farming communities are crucial.
Contact Real IPM South Africa for site-specific guidance and access to proven biological tools for your dragon fruit enterprise.