Posted on Wed, 24 Aug 2016, 09:10
To tackle devastating crop diseases, Africa should boost regional plant surveillance. The emergence of Tuta absoluta on the African agricultural landscape has rekindled pertinent questions regarding Africa s capability to protect local agriculture and enhance international trade. The importance of being battle-ready on a grand scale rather than leaving those who are struggling to make daily lives take up arms against a pest they barely know about, is therefore not difficult to see. Thus, strengthening our national or preferably regional approach to plant protection could be key.