IOFS ASSISTED ORGANIZING THE 13TH ARAB PLANT PROTECTION CONGRESS IN TUNISIA

Islamic Organization for Food Security represented by its Programme Manager Mr. Abdelaziz Hajjaji co-organized and co-sponsored the 13^th Arab Plant Protection Congress in Tunisia on October 16 - 21, 2022. The presentation named "Transboundary Pest Control on crops in IOFS Member Countries " provided in-depth review of destructive pests such as Desert Locust and the Red Palm Weevil – one of the most formidable insects in the Arab and African regions.

The main objective of the presentation was to provide expertise and technical know-how with the aim to set up technical procedures to assist member countries in dealing with transboundary plant pests. The event brought together specialists and experts in plant protection from member countries.

Mr. Abdelaziz Hajjaji conveyed the greeting message from IOFS Director General H.E. Yerlan A. Baidaulet and presented strategic vision of IOFS, Year of Africa global agenda. He also discussed about Transboundary pest control management strategic program, that was warmly accepted by international audience of more than 80 participants.

Within the issue of Transboundary pest control management strategic program were discussed three presentations such as:

 

• Desert Locust management: A transboundary pest that can be prevented by implementing a preventive control strategy presented by Ms. Mouna mhafdhi, General Directorate of Plant Health and Agricultural inputs Control Ministry of Agriculture, Water Ressources and Fisheries of Tunisia
• Control of Red Palm Weevil in Tunisia presented by Pr. Mohamed habib ben jamaa, Director general of plant health and control of agricultural inputs of Tunisia
• Overview of the locust control strategy in Morocco presented by M. Badreddine El Guennouni, Director of National Locust Control Center-Morocco

 

The presentation conveyed by IOFS provided many useful insights and vital information about descriptions, traits and control of the Desert Locusts to increase resilience of local communities through new technologies, namely the use of drones for early detection and mapping of infected areas.