FAO Tanzania Celebrates International Day of Plant Health
Arusha: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in collaboration with the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticide Authority (TPHPA) and other stakeholders, gathered in Arusha to celebrate International Day of Plant Health 2024 the annual event, which is observed on May 12th each year. This year's theme was Plant Health, Safe Trade, and Digital Technology.
The occasion served as a call for action for stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, and decision-makers, to adopt sound phytosanitary standards and measures in agricultural production and processing. It encouraged ensuring compliance with national and international phytosanitary regulations and participating in shaping the implementation of associated policies and standards.
The event called for action for farmers to Practice sustainable farming methods like Integrated Pest Management to prevent the introduction and spread of pests. Adhere to international plant health standards in agricultural production and trade. Coordinate with local and national authorities for effective plant health management.
It also reminded civil Society and the public to exercise caution when purchasing plants and plant products online to mitigate phytosanitary risks. Avoid bringing home plants or plant products from other locations without proper inspection, as they may harbor hidden pests. Play their important role of verifying that items meet the phytosanitary requirements of the destination country before purchase or import.
The three days event which caught the attention of thousands of people from Arusha and its nearby regions, TPHPA showcased various activities from their departments, including Plant Health Compliance, Plant Quarantine, Phytosanitary Services, the National Herbarium of Tanzania, and Pesticides Application Technology. Stakeholders such as CropLife Tanzania, AvoAfrica, Plant Village, Tanzania Agricultural Bank (TAB), and others also participated in the event.
The celebration featured exhibitions organized by FAO in collaboration with TPHPA, highlighting various aspects of plant protection, including obtaining phytosanitary certificates online. The event aimed to raise public awareness about plant protection initiatives and the government's efforts to ensure safe import and export practices.
The Guest of Honor for the occasion Mr Gerald Mweli, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted that “Protecting our plants is not an option in the moments that we leave now. One of the key elements of ensuring we protect our plants is to practice safe trade of agricultural products both for export and import because international business can easily cause the spread of crop pests, which threatens plant health.”
International Plant Health Day is an annual observance dedicated to raising global awareness about the importance of plant health and its critical role in food security, ecosystem preservation, and sustainable development. This initiative is part of broader efforts initiated during the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) in 2020, which emphasized the importance of protecting plant health to combat hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development.
For further information, please contact:
Victor Mapile
Communication for Development Specialist -FAO
FAO Tanzania
Mdili Katemani
National Project Coordinator
SREPHIT Project CUM TPHPA