Pests known as 'mealybugs' have wreaked havoc on mango crops, causing a shortage in markets across Kigali city, The New Times has learnt.

Vanessa Mutoni, a shopkeeper in Remera sector, Gasabo District, said one mango was previously going for Rwf700, but that today it costs between Rwf1,200 and Rwf1,500.

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"This means that retail prices have been hiked. That is why we do not have mangoes in our shop," she lamented.

Clarisse Uwanyirigira, another vendor in Kimironko sector, expressed similar concerns, stating that they are currently unable to purchase mangoes due to the shortage.

Bonifride Mukarurayi, a farmer in Bugesera District, shared the plight of farmers. "We no longer have mango harvest and we are thinking of alternative fruit trees," she said.

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Samuel Furaha echoed her sentiments, emphasizing the severe impact of pests on mango production.

"We usually harvest mangoes in December. The pests have drastically ravaged the production. We should be harvesting every year but it is not possible today," he said.

The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) has urged farmers to adopt preventive measures, including the cultivation of grafted mango varieties, pruning, pesticide spraying, and soil hoeing.

Athanase Hategekimana, a scientist leading the charge against crop diseases and pests, emphasized the importance of adopting pest-resistant mango varieties.

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Hategekimana disclosed ongoing efforts to combat the pest menace. "We are still carrying out research into this technique," he said, referring to the introduction of parasitoids, which are small insects aimed at controlling mealybugs.

Rwanda recently published a law governing biosafety, aiming to regulate the use of genetically modified crops (GMOs) that could potentially resist pests and diseases, providing a long-term solution to crop protection.