A workshop on strengthening the preparedness and emergency management of Banana Fusarium wilt (TR4) and Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) for Southern African countries was organized from 5 to 9 June 2023 by FAO, with the financial support of the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)-USAID.
The workshop brought together representatives of national plant protection organizations from 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to discuss the status of Fusarium wilt TR4 (Foc TR4) and Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) disease and support the development of national contingency and action plans to prevent the introduction of these emerging pathogens of banana and contain and manage these pathogens if they are already officially reported in countries.
Participants of the FAO Workshop to Strengthen Plant Health Emergency Management in Southern Africa
The initiative build alliances between all relevant stakeholders, including Stellenbosch University, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the SADC Secretariat, and the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC), to strengthen member countries’ emergency management capacities. SB and IITA severe as the technical experts of FoC TR4 and BBTV, respectively.
The initiative on strengthening the region’s capacity for emergency preparedness hopes to minimize the risks and impacts of plant health emergencies and protect banana production and biodiversity in the region.
For more details: https://www.fao.org/transboundary-plant-pests-diseases/news/detail/fao-organizing-workshop-to-strengthen-plant-health-emergency-management-in-southern-africa/en