Strong Support to the IPPC Validation Workshop on the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation from Madagascar

The validation Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation workshop for Madagascar receives the support of the Government

On the 8th and 9th of August, FAO Madagascar hosted the workshop on the validation of the results of the evaluation of phytosanitary capacities in Madagascar. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Rivo RAKOTOVAO, opened the workshop which stands as is the culmination of the work carried out by the Directorate of Plant Protection (DPV) in collaboration with national public and private actors concerned by the phytosanitary sector and financed by the African Solidarity Fund (ASTF). Sarah Brunel, Programme Officer for Implementation Facilitation and Alphonsine Louhouari, Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) Facilitator oversaw the whole process and facilitated the workshop.

Since January 2017, relevant stakeholders (ministries, market operators, chambers of agriculture, customs, forestry, researchers, etc.) have started a process to assess the country''s phytosanitary capacities. Proposal for phytosanitary legislation (the old legislation dating from 1986, which has become too obsolete) and for a phytosanitary capacity-building strategy adapted to the context and needs of Madagascar result from the various workshops coordinated by DPV. The main objective of these works is to prevent the introduction and spread of pests in order to protect agriculture and to ensure better food security, economic development through access to external markets for plant products and to protect the environment.

Minister Rivo RAKOTOVAO stressed the importance of continuing work and mobilizing the general public on efforts to strengthen phytosanitary activities for increased productivity and regional trade. FAO and the IPPC will continue to support the implementation of phytosanitary activities in accordance with the priorities agreed with the Government of Madagascar. This will include the formulation of phytosanitary projects arising from the national strategy, and support for the mobilization of resources for their implementation. The main objective of the national strategy is to make the National Plant Protection Office (NPPO) fully functional in order to prevent the introduction and spread of pests in Madagascar.

A workshop is scheduled for 21 September 2017 to validate the proposal for the new phytosanitary legislation. The event was promoted through a press release: http://mg.one.un.org/content/unct/madagascar/fr/home/presscenter/actualites-et- communiques-de-presse/un-tour-d_horizon-sur-les-capacites-phytosanitaires-de- madagasca.html