Fall Armyworm:Status and Priorities for East Africa

March 19, 2019Geneva, Switzerland

Fahari MARWAPrincipal Agricultural Economist

East African Community Secretariat

Experiences and Lessons from EAC

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Presentation Outline

1. Introduction to EAC2. EAC Mandate on Transboundary Crop pests and

Diseases3. EAC SPS Protocol and related instruments4. Directives of the Sectoral Council on AFS5. FAW Incidence and Severity by Partner States and by

Crop6. Yield Losses and Economic Impacts by Partner States

and by Crop7. FAW Management Practices at national and regional

level8. Successes, Challenges and Lessons Learned9. Recommendations/Conclusion

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Introduction to EAC

• First level– Second level

• Third level– Fourth level

An intergovernmental organization of the 6 Partner States

Guided by the EAC Treaty (1999)EAC Treaty is the main instrument of

IntegrationFour Pillars of integration (Customs Union;

Common Market; Monetary Union and Political Federation)

Total population estimated at 171 m

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EAC Mandate on Transboundary Crop pests and Diseases

EAC has developed several instruments of integrationwhere plant health issues are well addressed.

Articles 105 and 108 of the Treaty requires EAC PartnerStates to co-operate in the control of animal and plantdiseases and pests.

Article 38 of the EAC Customs Union requires EAC PartnerStates to co-operate in several areas including SPSmeasures in accordance with international best practices.

Management of transboundary crop and animal pests anddiseases is addressed in the context of EAC SPS Protocol.

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EAC SPS Protocol

Adopted in 2013 to:i. promote trade in food and agricultural commodities;ii. strengthen coordination of SPS measures; andiii.enhance cooperation in the harmonization of plant

and animal health and food safety measures in ascience-based approach.

Ratification Status: Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Burundi

EAC SPS Protocol (Articles 2 and 4.2) focuses on buildingsystems for surveillance, pest listing, pest risk analysis, pestreporting and designation of pest free areas of low prevalence.

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EAC SPS Measures

The protocol provides provision for development ofvarious SPS measures to implement the protocol

The measures have been adopted and the Council of Ministers has directed Partner States to implement them upon entering into force of the SPS Protocol

food & feed safety

animal health

plant health

fish & fisheries products

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What do measures on plant health provide for

to prevent introduction, spread and establishment of pests inaccordance with Provisions of the Treaty.

objective is to enhance trade and minimize phytosanitary riskswithin the EAC and beyond, as well as facilitate implementationof common and harmonized:

a) Inspection and certification proceduresb) Policies, legislations and regulations for management of

transboundary pestsc) Safe movements of plants and plant productsd) Systems for surveillance, pest listing, pest risk analysis, pest

reporting, designation of pest free areas and areas of low pestprevalence

e) Import requirementsf) Framework for design and management of quarantine facilities

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EAC SPS Bill

A legally binding instrument that will facilitateeffective implementation and enforcement of theSPS Protocol

Adopted by SCAFs in June 2017

Awaiting approval by the Council of Ministers andsubsequently enactment by EALA

Progress made in drafting of SPS Regulations andSOPs on Food Safety; Animal and Plant Health

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EAC Pesticides Management Guidelines

USAID, FAO and USDA have supported harmonizationof regional guidelines for registration of pesticides

The guidelines cover efficacy and residue trials andregistration requirements

Efficacy trials developed toi. Harmonize the procedures of carrying out efficacy

trials and reporting system on new pest controlproducts in the region; and

ii. To promote mutual recognition of efficacy trialdata and reports within the EAC

The harmonized efficacy guidelines present anopportunity for joint testing and acceleratedintroduction of products that can help control FAW inthe EAC

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Sectoral Council Directives on the FAW

11th SCAFS held in June 2018 observed that emergence of the FAWhas intensified food insecurity situation in the region.

The 11th Sectoral Council further recommended :• EAC Partner States to undertake joint surveillance, preparedness and

reporting on the FAW• The EAC Secretariat and Partner States to support joint testing of

pesticides and share information on products that have proved effective incombating FAW

Subsequently, the 38th Council of Ministers held in January 2019

a) Adopted the EAC PMG on efficacy trials, residue trials and datarequirements for the registration of conventional chemical pesticides.

b) Urged Partner States to fast-track domestication of the EAC PMGwithin 18 months after adoption (by June 2020).

c) Urged Partner States to pilot implementation of the EAC pesticideefficacy guidelines for the first three years. Thereafter, full mutualrecognition could be operationalized.

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Incidence and Severity by Country by Crop

Country Crops Affected IncidenceKenya Maize, sorghum - Reported in January 2016

- By Apr 2017 had spread to 43 counties out of 47- In 2017 fiscal losses were estimated at 1.05 m bags

of maize valued at KShs 3.15 Billion (US$ 30 m)- In 2018, total of 200,000 ha infested with FAW

Uganda Maize - Reported in June 2016- By Mar 2017 FAW had spread in the entire country- In 2017 season A, FAW caused maize yield losses

of 600,000 metric tonnes value at US$ 257 million- In 2017 season B, FAW caused maize yield losses

amounting to 250,000 metric tonnes

Burundi Maize - Reported in February 2017- By May 2018 had spread to 17 out of 19 provinces- 30-40 % of planted area were infested

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Incidence and Severity by Country by Crop

Country Crops Affected Incidence

Tanzania Maize, sorghum, cotton, sunflower and rice

- Reported in March 2017- By Jun 2018 all 26 regions of TZ mainland

were infested- In 2017 FAW destroyed 300 hectares of

maize in Zanzibar and more than 3000 Ha in TZ mainland

Rwanda Maize - Reported in March 2017- By Jun 2017 had spread to all 30 Districts- In 2017 season B, 31.2% of area planted

was infested- In 2018 season B, 22% of area planted

was infestedSouth Sudan Maize, sorghum,

cowpea and okra - Reported in 2018, 30% of maize/sorghum

fields affected by FAW

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FAW Management Practices being followed by Farmers

Country Management Practices

Kenya • Hand picking and use of selected and tested pesticides

Uganda • Hand picking and use of selected and tested pesticides

Tanzania • Hand picking and use of selected and tested pesticides• GoT bought and distributed pesticides worth $132,500 and educated farmers on how

to fight the worms (control the invasion by 70%)

Rwanda • Hand picking through community work (umuganda)• Use of selected and tested pesticides

Burundi • Less than 0.1% of farmers use selected and tested pesticides.• Pesticides used (considered effective) to control the FAW: e.g Orthene 75 SP,

Imidacloprid & Cypermethrin 50 CE• Local practices: Hand picking of eggs and larvae, mixed farming, improved farming

techniques, soapy water, pepper, tobacco, garlic, neem, moringa , Tephrosia, etc.

South Sudan • Hand picking of eggs and larvae• Farmers are using plant based pesticides and mixture of extracts of leaves of a

common shrub weed locally known as Babatero (Chromolaena odorata) mixed with chili (showing moderate effectiveness at early larvae stage)

• Mixture of product (Garlic + Neem tree leaves + Castor leaves + paw-paw leaves + Acacia leaves + Hot paper + chlorine + soap + Water)- Mostly from local NGOs

• Application of Malathion EC 50% but effectiveness very low

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FAW Management Practices at regional level

In Sep 2018, EAC convened a regional FAW workshopto reflect on the status of FAW management in theregion, share knowledge on technologies for controland best practices for upscaling, awareness creation,and capacity building efforts.

The workshop also focused on mechanisms forstrengthening national and regional coordination.

In Nov 2018, EAC convened a regional TWG meeting todeliberate modalities of conducting pilot efficacy trialson products to be registered for FAW.

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FAW Management Practices: Successes, Challenges and Lessons Learned

Successes:Formation of national task forces on FAWGovernment Budgetary allocation Evidence of success in some countries

i. Reduction FAW incidences from >70% inmaize in 2016 to <30% in season A 2018 inUganda

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FAW Management Practices: Successes, Challenges and Lessons Learned

Challenges:a. Lack of adequate coordination in FAW control efforts in EACb. Weak information management systems for FAW management

and control in the regionc. Low level of encouragement on application of evidence based

of IPM in management of FAWd. Weak policy and regulatory environment to support IPMe. Potential contribution of agricultural biotechnology (GM

technology) in mitigating the FAW and other transboundarycrop pests and diseases not well recognized

f. Lack of harmonized and consistent messaging to farmers onFAW management strategies and approaches

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FAW Management Practices: Successes, Challenges and Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned:

There is need for a holistic and flexible action plans atthe national and regional levels to accommodateemerging and re-emerging transboundary crop pestsand diseases (FAW, MLND)

Strengthening of regional coordination can enhancesharing of information and leveraging of resourcesacross Partner States

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Recommendations

a) EAC PS are encouraged to create an enabling environmentapplication of IPM in the control of the FAW and othertransboundary crop pests and diseases.

b) EAC PS to apply EAC harmonized guidelines in joint testingof potential pesticides for control of FAW.

c) EAC PS are encouraged to accelerate the process ofharmonizing biotechnology and biosafety policy framework.In order to regulate the technology and harness its potentialbenefits.

d) EAC Secretariat to create a regional task force on FAW andother transboundary crop pests and diseases.

e) EAC Secretariat and PS to jointly mobilize resources forimplementation of national and regional action plans on FAW.

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Way Forward and Next Steps

EAC Secretariat, PS and DP to prioritize:i. Strengthening of coordination, networking and information sharing

in the region by June 2019 Constitute EAC regional task force on FAW Designate staff to support coordination by the taskforce Convene planning and evaluation meetings Development of regional information management platform

ii. Development of EAC regional action plan on FAW by June 2019iii.Harmonisation of protocols, methodologies and policies applicable

to FAW management and controliv.Development of harmonized guidelines for management of

biopesticidesv. Development of a harmonized framework for protection of CBI

taking into consideration WTO guidelinesvi.Convene a follow-up meeting of the TWG to work on key priority

requirements to facilitate pilot efficacy trials by March, 2019

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Thank you!Asante Sana!