Johannesburg: The Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), has unveiled the second phase of the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP). APP is an initiative of the IPPC and FAO, which aims to strengthen the resilience of Africa’s phytosanitary systems against plant pests of regulatory, economic, and environmental significance, using digital tools.
According to South African Government News Agency, the launch, held in White River, Mpumalanga, brought together over 50 phytosanitary specialists from nine countries, including Algeria, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Liberia, Malawi, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia. These countries will participate in a weeklong Train-the-Trainer workshop focusing on advanced pest surveillance techniques, incorporating customised digital tools and applications for monitoring, detecting, and reporting significant pests.
Participants will receive state-of-the-art tablets for geospatial pest surveillance, utilize field survey protocols developed by technical experts, and engage in practical sessions using pest survey tools. Delivering remarks on behalf of Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, Jan Hendrik Venter, Director of Plant Health at the Department of Agriculture, highlighted Africa’s potential to become a leader in high-quality plant product trade.
Venter emphasized that Africa stands at a critical juncture, with immense biodiversity, rising agricultural productivity, and opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area. He noted that achieving this vision requires ensuring the safe and traceable movement of plants and plant products, fully compliant with international phytosanitary standards. He added that well-trained plant health officials are essential in maintaining pest-free or low-prevalence status, crucial for accessing lucrative markets.
The first phase of APP began in 2023, engaging phytosanitary specialists from several countries, including Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, and others. Phase two builds on the achievements of the pilot phase, with a focus on training plant health officers who will, in turn, educate peers in national plant protection organisations and other government stakeholders on using the APP suite of digital tools.
Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director General and IPPC Officer-in-Charge, stated in a video message that APP aims to equip plant health officers with the skills to prevent and address major plant pest threats that jeopardize food security, agricultural trade, and economic growth. Funded by contributions from the European Union and the United Kingdom, phase two builds on support from the United States Department of Agriculture, which funded phase one in 2023.
Globally, plant pests destroy about 40 percent of crop yields, resulting in economic losses of approximately USD 220 billion. In Africa, the impacts of climate change exacerbate the problem, with invasive pests causing major damages. According to the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, fall armyworm alone causes an estimated USD 9.4 billion in annual yield losses in Africa.
The African Union’s Plant Health Strategy for Africa highlights limited technical capability as a barrier to sustainable agriculture. Through APP, FAO, IPPC, and partners aim to strengthen plant health systems and build national phytosanitary capacity across Africa.