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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

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 9

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Project

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.

Language English

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    The fall armyworm (FAW) – scientifically known as Spodoptera frugiperda – is an invasive insect pest capable of consuming more than 80 different crop varieties. Initially identified in Africa in 2016, it quickly spread across the globe, resulting in significant damage to key crops, notably maize. Experts project that without effective management, FAW could lead to staggering maize yield reductions ranging from 21 to 53 percent. The pest was first documented in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region in 2018, making its appearance in Sudan and Yemen. At the time of writing, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, Oman, the Syrian Arab Republic and the United Arab Emirates had also officially acknowledged the presence of FAW. The pest's remarkable ability to migrate, reproduce rapidly and inflict harm on staple crops like maize, sorghum, rice and wheat elevates the risk that it poses to both regional food security and crop production. Maize holds a central role in the NENA region's agriculture, spanning over 1.3 million ha of cultivated land and producing more than 8 million tonnes, with an estimated value surpassing USD 1.8 billion.
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    Appui à la préparation et à la réponse aux urgences pour renforcer les capacités de gestion des pays du Maghreb à attenuer l’impact et les risques de la chenille légionnaire d’automne en Afrique du Nord - TCP/SNE/3901 2024
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    Originaire du continent américain, la chenille légionnaire d’automne (CLA) est un insecte ravageur qui s’attaque au maïs et à plus de 80 cultures; il représente donc une menace importante pour la sécurité alimentaire mondiale et les moyens d’existence des populations rurales. Rien qu’en Afrique, il pourrait entraîner la perte annuelle de 17,7 millions de tonnes de maïs, d’une valeur de 2,5 à 6,2 milliards d’USD. Capable de parcourir plus de 100 km en une seule nuit, la CLA se propage rapidement grâce à son taux de reproduction élevé, à sa capacité de dispersion naturelle et au commerce international. Une fois établie, l’éradication devient impossible, ce qui fait de son endiguement un défi mondial pressant. La CLA a déjà eu un impact sur la production et la sécurité alimentaire en Mauritanie et sa possible propagation constitue une menace pour les pays voisins du Maghreb. Afin de prévenir ce danger, la FAO a lancé une action mondiale triennale de lutte contre la CLA, exhortant la Convention internationale pour la protection des végétaux (CIPV) à contribuer à sa mise en œuvre. Cette initiative vise à renforcer les efforts de prévention et de lutte durable contre les ravageurs à l’échelle mondiale, régionale et nationale. La Mauritanie a sollicité l’assistance technique de la FAO pour contrer la menace d’invasion du ravageur dans la zone de production agricole du pays. En outre, en raison de la nature transfrontalière de l’insecte et de sa couverture géographique, il existe une probabilité d’incursion dans les pays voisins. Les interventions proposées comprenaient donc des actions de sensibilisation, de surveillance et de contrôle en Mauritanie, ainsi que des actions de préparation et de contrôle anticipé en Algérie, en Libye, au Maroc et en Tunisie.
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