The rise of transboundary pests in eastern Africa is due to globalisation, trade and climate change, a study has revealed.
The eastern Africa subregional office of the Food and Agriculture Organisation conducted a baseline survey on emerging pests.
As part of the study, the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International surveyed the early warning, preparedness, and response systems for emerging pests across nine eastern African countries.
Focusing on the papaya mealybug, fall army worm and desert locusts, the survey is part of the Eastern African Emerging Pests Programme aimed at enhancing pest management strategies in Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, and South Sudan.
Cabi found that five invasive alien species result in economic losses ranging from Sh116.4 billion to Sh142.3 billion annually for smallholder farmers across eastern African.
This accounts for approximately 1.8 to 2.2 per cent of the region's total agricultural GDP.
The losses are projected to increase to between Sh129.3 billion and Sh155.2 billion per year over the next five to 10 years, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated national, regional and international responses.
The report notes that the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is significantly impeded by the impact of invasive species.
“Pests can easily spread across borders and reach epidemic proportions,” the survey says.
“Outbreaks of newly introduced pests and the resurgence of endemic pests lead to substantial losses in crops, pastures and forests, threatening the livelihoods of vulnerable farmers and the food security of millions.”
The study states that significant food losses and trade opportunities in agriculture are attributed to pests and food safety threats, including biological toxins, microbial contaminants and pesticide residues.
The research shows that recent years have seen several pests introduced and spread throughout eastern Africa, with the potential to cause devastating economic impacts.
“Outbreaks of new pests can result in severe losses to crops and threaten food security.”
The report indicates a high likelihood of entry, spread and establishment of pests in the region, and proposes detection surveys and reporting of pest statuses, particularly for mango mealybugs (Rastrococcus iceryoides and Rastrococcus invadens).
Rastrococcus iceryoides has already been detected in Kenya, while Rastrococcus invadens has been found in Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda.
The fall army worm, first reported in Western Kenya in March 2017, has since spread throughout the country, primarily affecting maize and sorghum.
By 2018, 83 per cent of maize farmers were impacted, resulting in losses of up to one million tonnes.
FAO data reveals that desert locusts are among the most destructive migratory pests globally.
“A single one kilometre square swarm can contain between 40 and 80 million adult locusts, consuming as much food in one day as 35,000 people,” FAO reports.
The locust crisis in Kenya in 2020 severely threatened the livelihoods of farmers and the food security of 3.1 million people in arid and semi-arid regions.
The study calls for urgent pest surveillance plans to monitor the presence of banana Fusarium wilt disease tropical race 4.
“We recommend a review of existing plant protection laws to bolster early warning and response systems. In some cases, countries may need assistance in drafting these regulations. Additionally, pest-listing activities should be conducted to develop lists of quarantine and non-quarantine pests and undertake national contingency planning for prioritised threats.”
