FAO and Sudan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forests are currently leading a 2-week training programme in Pest Risk Analysis in Khartoum, from November 2-11. 

Pest risk analysis (PRA) is an important tool for agriculture, trade, food security and the environment. PRA is a process of evaluating biological or other scientific and economic evidence to determine whether an organism is a pest, whether it should be regulated, and the strength of any phytosanitary measures to be taken against it. This evidence-based process helps countries protect their plant resources from pests and fulfill their international obligations. PRA collects and analyzes scientific evidence and supports key decisions to protect plant health. These decisions have cascading effects on agricultural production, accessing and sustaining trade markets, enhancing food security and protecting the environment and biodiversity.

“FAO is pleased to support the Ministry in the development and capacity building of a new team of experts in pest risk analysis for Sudan,” said Dr. Abdi Adan Jama, FAO Representative in Sudan. “The adoption of evidence-based pest risk analysis in Sudan will position Sudan to more fully participate in the international trade of agricultural commodities while also helping to protect local environments and food security by reducing pest risks.”

Participants include Plant Quarantine Officers from the Plant Protection Directorate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, who upon completion of the training will form Sudan’s trained PRA team. The primary goal of the training course is to enable this team to implement PRA and to apply appropriate evidence-based phytosanitary measures to help protect agricultural crops and natural resources from serious plant pests in Sudan.  The training course aims to:

• Provide participants with the background knowledge to understand the purpose of PRA and how PRA fits into the IPPC,
• Develop the skills required to conduct PRAs within the context of the IPPC,
• Provide hands-on experience in conducting PRAs,
• Provide examples of how PRA is performed in other countries, and
• Develop self confidence amongst the course participants.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and Forests appreciates the technical and training support of FAO in this important area of Pest Risk Analysis for staff of the ministry stationed across the country,” said Khider Gibril Mousa, Director General of Plant Protection with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests.

The issue of transboundary plant pests and disease transmission is of growing concern given the increasing volume of trade in agricultural goods between countries. As a signatory of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), there is a need for Sudan to implement the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) in order to facilitate the country’s participation in the global trade of plant products and support Sudan to avoid any unnecessary barriers to international trade of agricultural commodities. The training will teach participants about the ISPMs as well as the IPPC’s additional standards for the analysis, assessment and management of pest risk.