FAO hands over plant protection equipment to MAWLR
On 15 September 2021, FAO handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) a consignment of plant health surveillance and control material, as well as locust spraying equipment worth N$1.6 million (approximately USD 107 000). The equipment was purchased through the financial support of the European Union (EU); the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and FAO’s Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities (SFERA).
Through the financial support of the EU, FAO is implementing the regional project entitled, “Support towards Operationalization SADC Regional Agriculture Policy” (STOSAR). This project aims to strengthen the capacities of SADC countries, including Namibia, for both plant and animal health. At the same time, FAO is also supporting ongoing efforts across five SADC countries, including Namibia, to control the African Migratory Locust outbreaks.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Ms. Farayi Zimudzi, FAO Representative in Namibia, highlighted that an estimated 40% of food crops are lost to plant pests and diseases annually, leaving millions of people food insecure and with seriously damaged produce, which is the primary source of income for rural communities and smallholders. She further highlighted how plant health is increasingly under threat, while climate change and human activities are altering ecosystems, reducing biodiversity and creating conditions where pests can thrive.
“This in turn creates ample ground for the destruction and potential extinction of plants which can destroy the whole food chain and negatively affect our ecosystems,” she said.
Zimudzi stated that FAO has been coordinating efforts and responses to pests such as Fall Armyworm and Locusts by promoting innovative technologies for monitoring and early warning, and working with partners to enable knowledge transfer of integrated pest management (IPM) practices to farmers and plant protection institutions in developing countries.
Zimudzi added that Namibia is no exception as FAO has played an immense role in assisting Government in its efforts to contain pest outbreaks in the country in recent years.
In his acceptance speech, MAWLR Executive Director, Percy Misika, said the donation from FAO, with the support of the EU, CERF and SFERA, comes at an opportune time and will enhance their efforts to rapid respond to pest outbreaks.
Misika stated that the ministry would establish surveillance mechanisms, as well as early warning and forecasting systems, which are important to alert Government and farmers about the presence of pests.
He noted that Namibia has experienced frequent outbreaks of plant pests and diseases reported in areas where they are uncommon. As a result, trans-boundary plant pests and diseases of economic importance have caused significant damage to crop production, resulting in severe adverse impacts on livelihoods, food security and nutrition, and the national economy.
“The inadequate national capacity for pest surveillance, monitoring, early warning system, emergency preparedness and pest eradication including weak linkages amongst the relevant stakeholder institutions are some of the main factors that contribute to the introduction and spread of pests,” he said.
Misika further indicated that his Ministry is very concerned with the emergence, intensity and spread of pests in recent years.
“To make matters worse, there is the intermittent outbreak of the Brown and African migratory locusts, the tomato leaf minor and fruit fly, which are amongst the most destructive transboundary plant pests and diseases that threaten food and nutrition security in the country.”
The Plant Health Surveillance and Pest Control consignment included items such as pest traps and killing agents which will aid the Ministry, specifically its Plant Health personnel, in their work to prevent and contain transboundary plant pests and diseases such as the Tomato Leaf miner (Tuta absoluta), fall armyworm, Fruit flies and Banana Fusarium wilt, amongst others.
Meanwhile, the locust support aimed towards further strengthening the capacity of the Plant Health Unit and its Regional Extension Staff within the country’s 14 regions so that they can be ready to combat the outbreak of locusts at any time.
In her concluding remarks, Zimudzi thanked the European Union (EU), who are funding the STOSAR project, as well as the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund, and the Government of Belgium (who provided funding through SFERA). She also acknowledged the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), for its commitment and support towards such life-saving interventions – who have since provided support to the locust control operations.