Regional Transformation: FAO Digitizing Plant Pest Surveillance Across Southern Africa
STOSAR II and STREPHIT
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — In a bold step toward transforming agricultural resilience and biosafety in Southern Africa, Tanzania hosted a landmark regional training workshop focused on digitizing plant pest surveillance systems.
The five-day workshop brought together experts from National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States, with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through two EU-funded projects: Support Towards the Operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR II) and Strengthening Plant Health Services in Tanzania for Enhanced Food Safety (STREPHIT).
This initiative is a strategic investment in the future of plant health systems in the region to strengthen compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) standards to facilitate market access.
At the heart of this transformation is the Digital National Plant Pest Surveillance System, a model built on Kobo Toolbox for field data collection, Microsoft Power BI for real-time analysis and visualization, and a centralized data server for secure storage and advanced analytics.
Speaking on behalf of the FAO Representative to Tanzania, Dr Nyabenyi Tipo, Mr Charles Tulahi, Assistant FAO Representative, emphasized the workshop’s broader vision, saying, “This workshop is more than a training; it is a platform for knowledge exchange, regional integration, and global alignment. The skills and systems we build here will empower NPPOs to implement international standards with precision and confidence.”
By aligning with the relevant International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), including ISPMs Numbers 4, 6, and 10, the workshop equipped countries with the tools and knowledge needed to conduct effective surveillance using digital tools.
Real-time access to surveillance data is critical for supporting pest risk analysis, phytosanitary certification, and the establishment of pest-free areas, pest-free places of production and pest pest-free production sites, and areas of low pest preference.
It also helps countries to determine pest status, track changes in pest populations, and guide targeted interventions for pest management and eradication, which are essential for food security and safe trade in plants and plant products.
Dr. Stephen Nindi, Deputy Permanent Secretary in Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture, linked the initiative to national development goals. He said, “This initiative aligns with our national development goals under Vision 2050. By integrating digital tools into pest surveillance, we are not only improving data quality but also empowering our institutions to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats.”
The Kobo Toolbox system is designed to minimize human error, enhance data integrity, and support automated reporting key features for meeting international phytosanitary standards. Timely and accurate surveillance information is essential for informed decision-making and effective response to pest threats.
Ali Kamis Juma, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources, and Livestock in Zanzibar, and Guest of Honour at this event, emphasized the importance of regional collaboration, saying, “Zanzibar is committed to strengthening its plant health systems, and we see this digital surveillance model as a game-changer. It offers a unified approach that can be scaled across the region to protect our agricultural economies and biodiversity.”
Speaking from a development partner perspective, Marc Stalmans, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Tanzania, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment and praised the initiative’s alignment with EU priorities. He said, “The EU is proud to support efforts that enhance biosafety and agricultural resilience. This workshop reflects the kind of innovation and regional cooperation that will drive sustainable development across Africa”.
Beyond training, the workshop explored how national surveillance data can be integrated into FAO’s global platforms, enabling better international decision-making and enhanced targeted support to Member States.
This convergence of technology, policy, and regional cooperation positions Tanzania and the SADC region at the forefront of digital transformation in agriculture - paving the way for stronger plant health systems, safer trade, and improved food security.