In an event organized by the College of Applied Natural Sciences and attended by scholars from the College, Dr. Ofgaa Jirata, a senior researcher from the Department of Biology, showcased his research finding titled "Development and Validation of White Mango Scale Management Technologies for Sustainable Mango Production in Ethiopia."

Dr. Ofgaa underscored that this research project was prompted due to the widespread prevalence of white mango scale, a disease affecting mango trees in the south and southwestern regions of Ethiopia. Dr. Ofgaa reiterates that although these areas have agroecological zones suitable for mango production, the sector remains underdeveloped.

To improve the mango production, researchers have focused on managing the size of the mango trees which are large and hinder effective pest control. The findings suggest that pruning the main stem of the trees can help control their growth. Additionally, intercropping with high-value crops can be beneficial; and this approach creates open space that can be filled with quality mango plants.