Training in risk mapping, sharing crucial data for better pest control across Africa
Photo ©FAO
Developing capacity for informed pest management decisions through modeling and mapping the risks of infestation was the goal of a recent training session organized by FAO’s Global Action for Fall Armyworm Control in collaboration with the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council of the African Union (AU-IAPSC), financed by the European Union.
National Plant Protection Officers from 18 African countries were trained in pest risk modelling as well as development and interpretation of pest risk maps during sessions held in Douala, Cameroon from 12 to 16 October 2024.
Participants from countries including Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Somalia, and South Africa engaged in comprehensive training on data management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and advanced modelling techniques.
Insect pests pose a serious threat to agriculture across Africa, leading to substantial losses and jeopardizing food security for millions of people. Notable pests such as fall armyworm (FAW), Tuta absoluta, Asian fruit fly, and African armyworm are among the most destructive, severely impacting crops and livelihoods. The lack of technical expertise and limited access to modern tools and reliable data are significant challenges in the region.
Building on FAO’s experience in establishing the FAW Monitoring and Early Warning System (FAMEWS) mobile app, this training aimed to empower participants to create risk maps. These will enable them to make well-informed decisions and foster a collaborative data-sharing framework, enhancing regional pest management strategies.
Participants were trained to generate risk maps for a key pest, and encouraged to apply their new skills in future to other pests affecting their countries. It’s expected that this progression will allow them to eventually build a comprehensive suite of risk maps, facilitating a broader understanding and capability in managing various pest threats.
Organizers of the training said that such a structured approach aims to not only provide the necessary skills and tools for participants, but ensure they can continue to apply these and expand on what they have learned. The goal is that by applying these skills and tools, NPPOs can lead work towards sustained improvements in pest management and decision-making processes within the participants’ respective countries.
With improved knowledge and tools, participants should be empowered to accurately predict and manage pest threats effectively in the field, selecting appropriate management strategies for specific pests at the right times and locations, mitigating the extensive damage caused by these pests, and enhancing food security.
That, in turn, is expected to help to reduce the use of chemical pest controls, cutting costs and reducing environmental risks.