SKLTSHU and Virginia Tech Partner to Tackle Fruit Fly Menace in 25 Hyderabad Villages

On Saturday, 18 July 2026, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University in Hyderabad announced a new research collaboration with Virginia Tech University, USA, to tackle rising fruit fly infestations and other crop pests. This joint scientific initiative will focus on implementing integrated pest management across 25 vegetable villages located near Hyderabad to establish sustainable agricultural practices.

A visiting delegation from Virginia Tech, which included the renowned global entomologist Dr. Muniappan and economist Dr. Anupa Gupta, arrived at the Horticultural University on Saturday. During their visit, the American scientists met with the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Dr. Danda Raji Reddy, to discuss the scope and execution of the joint research program.

The primary focus of the collaborative study will be the management of fruit flies. These destructive pests have increasingly infested and damaged trellis-grown vegetables, which are also known locally as pandal-grown vegetables. The affected crops include essential local produce such as bitter gourd, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, and cucumber.

During the high-level meeting, the experts noted that fruit fly infestations in these pandal-grown vegetables have recently surged. The scientists and university officials emphasised that relying solely on chemical controls to manage the pest population would prove highly difficult and unsustainable in the long run. Consequently, the discussion highlighted an urgent need to adopt integrated management methods rather than depending exclusively on chemical pesticides.

To address these challenges, the Horticultural University and Virginia Tech decided to launch extensive field research across 25 selected vegetable villages in the vicinity of Hyderabad. Beyond the fruit fly menace, this collaborative research project will also focus on managing other prevalent agricultural pests. These include thrips in vegetables, fruit and shoot borers in brinjal (eggplant), and diamondback moths in cabbage and cauliflower crops.