CABI Plays Key Role in Launch of Plant Health Strategy and the Implementation Plan for Africa 2022-2036
07 August 2024, Africa: CABI has played a key role in the development and launch in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, of the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union’s Plant Health Strategy for Africa and its Implementation Plan aimed at improving food security, nutrition, livelihoods and trade.
The Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union (AU-IAPSC), the Regional Plant Protection Organization unveiled the strategy for better sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures in Africa. The Implementation Plan of the PHSA was made possible through the support from the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS).
In attendance at the launch event were Dr Morris Akiri, CABI’s Senior Regional Director, Africa, as well as Madam H.E. Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment of the African Union, Dr Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (AUC), and Dr Saliou Niassy, Coordinator of the AU-IAPSC.
CABI provided technical expertise for the 2022-2036 strategy
Under USDA-FAS support, scientists from CABI’s regional centre for Africa in Nairobi worked with the AU-IAPSC to provide technical expertise and financial support the development of the Implementation Plan for the 2022-2036 PHSA.
CABI and USDA’s support to the AU-IAPSC and the African Union Department of Agriculture Rural Development Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (AU-DARBE) will now help to implement the Plant Health Strategy and its associated activities.
Dr Akiri said CABI has further supported the development continental regulatory guidelines for the registration and testing of biopesticides and held consultative meetings to raise awareness of the guidelines amongst the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and African Union Member States (MS).
In line with PHSA Strategic action 3.7: Strengthen implementation of eco-friendly IPM approaches with emphasis pesticide risk reduction and safe use, including MRLs, CABI is currently championing the adoption of these guidelines to increase availability of biopesticides for better management of insect pests and diseases, he said.
Promote ePhyto adoption
He added that CABI has undertaken a detailed study to identify challenges and opportunities in the adoption of electronic Phytosanitary certificates (ePhyto), a key requirement to facilitate safe trade in agricultural produce a aligned to the PHSA Strategic action 5.2 on Promoting wider adoption and implementation of e-Phyto in the Member States.
Dr Akiri further said that, under the support of the project, AU-IAPSC held a successful workshop in collaboration with USDA-FAS, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) secretariat, and CABI, to promote ePhyto adoption.
Dr Akiri said, “CABI is committed to continue working with AU-IAPSC to enhance delivery of a robust phytosanitary measure, promote safe trade, and enhance the capacity of its member states to prevent and manage pests and diseases incursions effectively.
“I call upon USDA-FAS, RECs, AU Member States to support AU-IAPSC to deliver on their crucial role in coordinating efforts to protect plant health across our continent, facilitate safe trade and increase livelihoods of our farmers.
“As we embark on implementing the Plant Health Strategy, let us remember that our plants’ health is intrinsically linked to our well-being, economies, and sustainable environment. Therefore, I call upon all of us to pull our efforts towards the same direction and engage actively and together shape a sustainable plant health in Africa.”
Plant health System for healthy plants in Africa
The vision of the Plant Health Strategy for Africa 2022-2036 is a robust and practical management system for healthy plants in Africa.
Its mission is for the continent to have harmonized standards/procedures and capacity to effectively manage the introduction and spread of pests and their controlled impacts that subsequently improve safe trade, food and nutrition security, economic growth and environmental protection.
Madam Sacko said, “The continued occurrence of plant pests exacerbated by the changing climate are resulting in high rates of loss of plant species and biodiversity which has in turn placed thousands of plant species to which Africa is host at risk.
“This growing trend needs to be reversed, given the centrality of agriculture to Africa’s economy where it accounts for 40% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 15% of exports, 60 to 80% of employment, and 75% of intra-African trade.”
Plant protection activities on the continent are a priority
Madam Sacko added, “If this negative trend is not reversed, Africa’s economic gains and aspirations through various development initiatives and strategies (such as the Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) leading to increased intra-African trade), will be undermined.”
She said coordinated efforts towards plant protection activities on the continent are a priority, and among others should focus on information exchange, a regional standard development program, and provision of inputs into international standard setting and regional pesticide programs.
“There is need for strong leadership in promoting integrated pest management (IPM) programs for building national capacities in member states for strong plant health systems resulting in better livelihoods and enhanced trade and conservation of biodiversity,” she said.
The U.S. Mission to The African Union representative Mr Christopher Nyce, reiterated the commitment to the strategic partnership by the US government to AU and assured AU IAPSC of its continued support of USA to strengthen Plant Health in Africa, Ba Aichetou, representative from Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), highlighted the ongoing projects on Plant Health in support of the implementation of the PHSA.
Dr El-Lissy Osama, the IPPC Secretary in his remarks assured AU IAPSC of continued collaboration in the implementation of the Plant Health Strategy.
Dr MaryLucy Oronje, Senior Scientist – SPS, said the new Plant Health Strategy for Africa will also support National Plant Protection Organizations to implement harmonised international SPS standards which are essential for safe trade in agrifood value chains.
Dr Saliou Niassy, reiterated on working together to enhance plant health and safe trade. He appreciated the support for USDA FAS and CABI in the support of the development of the Implementation Plan for the PHSA and called upon development partners for continued support to enhance crop production, food security and safe trade in agriproducts in Africa and beyond.
“This will not only help increase national food security but will also open up more profitable export markets for fresh fruit and vegetables,” she said.
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