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Support for Emergency Preparedness and Response to Strengthen Management Capacities of Maghreb Countries to Mitigate the Impact and Risk of Fall Armyworm in North Africa - TCP/SNE/3901

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Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 9

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

Category Factsheet

Synopsis (short abstract) Originating in the Americas, fall armyworm (FAW) is an insect pest that feeds on maize and more than 80 crops, posing a major threat to global food security and the livelihoods of rural populations. In Africa alone, it has the potential to bring about the annual loss of 17.7 million tonnes of maize, with a value of between USD 2.5 and 6.2 billion. With its ability to travel more than 100 km in a single night, FAW spreads quickly thanks to its high reproduction rate, its natural dispersion capacity and international trade. Once established, FAW is impossible to eradicate, making its containment a pressing global challenge. FAW has already impacted food production and security in Mauritania, and its potential spread poses a threat to neighbouring countries in the Maghreb. To stem this threat, FAO has launched a three-year initiative for Global Action for Fall Armyworm Control, and has urged the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to help with its implementation. This initiative aims to strengthen global, regional and national prevention and sustainable control efforts against FAW. Mauritania has requested the technical assistance of FAO in countering the threat of invasion by this pest in the country’s agricultural production area. In addition, due to the insect's transboundary nature and its geographical coverage, its incursion into neighbouring countries is likely. As a result, the proposed interventions consisted of awareness-raising, monitoring and control actions in Mauritania, as well as preparedness and early control in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. This project set out to: (i) raise awareness of FAW with training on appropriate management strategies; (ii) train relevant personnel in controlling the spread of FAW; (iii) strengthen capacities in monitoring, surveillance, identification and differentiation of similar insect species. It thus aimed to influence policy changes and the design of integrated pest management strategies, enhance biosecurity control, reduce the effects of an incursion or invasion and ensure sustainable crop production.

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