IGAD Member States To Develop Effective Strategies In The Sustainable Management Of Pests

Ministers in charge of Agriculture, Heads of Delegations, and representatives of the member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have convened in Nairobi to discuss and devise strategies for the sustainable management and control of desert locusts and other transboundary pests that pose a threat to food security and livelihoods in the region.

The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mithika Linturi acknowledged the presence of all regional stakeholders as a show of collective commitment in addressing the severe challenges posed by transboundary pests that threaten agriculture, ecosystem and livelihoods of the member states.

‘The issues we face with migratory pests and in particular desert locusts, quelea birds, fall armyworms, and African armyworms are not just isolated threats; they are significant hurdles to our collective food security and economic stability within the IGAD region,’ the CS reiterated.

In a speech read on his behalf by Livestock Prin
cipal Secretary Jonathan Mueke, the CS said that these pests devastate crops, leading to substantial yield losses and economic setbacks.

The resulting food insecurity, according to Linturi, particularly affects vulnerable communities, hindering efforts toward sustainable agricultural development.

He at the same time noted that persistent pest outbreaks increase costs for farmers, who must invest in control measures, often reducing their profitability.

To address these challenges, Linturi revealed that the upcoming Steering Committee and Ministerial Meetings on Transboundary Pest Management, organized by the Inter-Regional Platform for Managing Transboundary Pests will aim to address the significant threats to food security posed by transboundary pests by facilitating international collaboration, align policies across borders, and enhance our understanding of the impact of climate change on pest dynamics.

‘For the IGAD region, the meetings will coordinate efforts to monitor and control pests, strengthen re
gional capacities in bio pesticide use, and develop a comprehensive action plan,’ said the CS, adding that a one-day training session on bio pesticides will build expertise among plant protection officers, contributing to a unified response to pest outbreaks.

He disclosed that over the next three days, the committee will engage in comprehensive discussions and collaborative efforts with the primary focus on tackling the proliferation of transboundary pests.

Linturi maintained that Kenya, as the host nation, will share its expertise and successful pest management strategies during the training sessions, benefiting both the country and its regional partners, adding that the transboundary nature of these pests requires a united regional response and therefore essential that member states coordinate their efforts to efficiently monitor, control, and mitigate their impact.

‘Our agenda is robust, aiming to promote collaboration among member states by aligning policies, enhancing our understanding of the dynamic
challenges posed by these pests in the context of climate change, and strengthening our capacity to implement bio pesticide-based pest management strategies,’ he said.

Speaking at the event, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu emphasized that the frequent outbreaks of these pests, particularly the desert locusts, pose severe threats to agriculture across the IGAD region, worsening food insecurity and economic instability.

Gebeyehu noted that the transboundary nature of these pests adds a layer of complexity to IGAD’s efforts, as they disregard national borders, necessitating a unified regional response.

Further, he stated that climate change compounds this issue, with events like El Niño creating favourable conditions for pest propagation.

‘The erratic weather patterns, a consequence of climate change, are making it increasingly difficult for our agricultural communities to plan and safeguard their livelihoods, leading to crop failures, food shortages, and displacement,’ he lamented.

‘We have witne
ssed the catastrophic impact of these challenges firsthand. The unprecedented rainfall in 2019, triggered by El Niño, resulted in one of the most severe desert locust outbreaks in recent history, destroying vast tracts of our agricultural land,’ he further recalled, adding that this crisis was a stark reminder of the imperative for a unified regional strategy.

Gebeyehu noted that the region successfully avoided another desert locust outbreak similar to or worse than the one experienced in 2019/2020, an achievement which highlights the crucial role of the Platform in coordinating early warning and early actions, resulting in significant cost savings and reduced use of synthetic pesticides, thereby minimizing negative environmental impacts.

He said that the committee’s discussions will aim to strengthen and expand these collaborative efforts, focus on improving regional advocacy, strategic decision-making, coordinated assessments, contingency planning, capacity building, information exchange and conclude with
the adoption of a Ministerial Communique, which will outline the collective commitments and strategic actions of the member states.

Source: Kenya News Agency