Year of publication 2023

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Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

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Pages 12

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Publisher FAO ;

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Product type Project

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Synopsis (short abstract) The global and regional spread of plant pests and diseases has increased dramatically in recent years, threatening the food security and sustainable development of the Eastern African subregion This is the result of globalization, trade and climate change, as well as reduced resilience in food production systems due to decades of agricultural intensification If insufficient natural enemies or appropriate control measures are introduced, plant pests can easily spread over vast areas and reach epidemic proportions, causing significant losses to crops, pastures and forests, in turn endangering the livelihoods of vulnerable farmers, pastoralists and the food and nutrition security of millions of people Accidently introduced in Western Africa, the mango mealybug Rastrococcus invadens Williams Hemiptera Pseudoco ccidae represents a significant risk for the whole region, as its reach has been recorded in Central and Eastern Africa, with the first infected plants found in Rwanda Mango mealybug damage is caused by the accumulation of honeydew and sooty mould that impedes the photosynthetic capacity of the plant Heavily impacted plant parts stop growing, while in many cases no new leaves or flowers can be produced In severely affected areas, mango production was reduced by 89 100 percent.

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Language English

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Also available in:

• French

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