STORY: Experts meet in Kenya to promote transboundary pest management in East Africa
SHOOTING TIME: May 21, 2024
DATELINE: May 22, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:44
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the conference held in Nairobi
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WORKNEH GEBEYEHU, IGAD Executive Secretary
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JONATHAN MUEKE, Principal secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Kenya

STORYLINE:

Experts began a three-day meeting in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, on Wednesday to promote transboundary pest management in the East African region.

The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional ministerial meeting on risk transfer and transboundary pest management brought together more than 100 stakeholders from IGAD member states, along with representatives from partner organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Bank.

The focus of the meeting is to foster collaboration in effectively managing and controlling desert locusts and other transboundary pests across the region.

In his opening remarks, IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said frequent outbreaks of transboundary pests such as desert locusts, Quelea birds, fall armyworms and African armyworms pose severe threats to agriculture across the region, exacerbating food insecurity and economic instability.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WORKNEH GEBEYEHU, IGAD Executive Secretary
"Climate change further compounds this issue with events like El Nino creating favorable condition for pest propagation. The erratic weather pattern is a consequence of climate change and makes it increasingly difficult for our agriculture communities to plan and safeguard the livelihoods, leading to crop failures, food shortage, as well as displacement."

Jonathan Mueke, principal secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Kenya, said the regional meeting will coordinate efforts to monitor and control pests, strengthen regional capacities in bio-pesticide use, and develop a comprehensive action plan to tackle the pests.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JONATHAN MUEKE, Principal secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development of Kenya
"Your presence here highlights our collective commitment to addressing the severe challenges posed by transboundary pests. That threatens our agriculture, our ecosystems and our very livelihoods. The issues we face with migratory pests and in particular desert locusts, quelea birds, fall armyworms. And in particular, an African armyworm and not just isolated threats. They are significant hurdles to our collective food security and economic stability within the IGAD region."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)