Stakeholders in the agriculture sector have committed to establishing and executing an Early Warning and Rapid Response System (EWRRS) aimed at preventing, controlling, and managing pests and diseases in the country.
Led by the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the initiative is a collaboration with the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AiCCRA) project of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and 10 other state and non-state institutions.
The 11 institutions at a validation workshop in Accra signed up and pledged to play their roles for the success of the system. Collaborating institutions include NADMO, EPA, CRI, SARI, INSTI, GAEC, GMET, Directorate of Agriculture Extension Services of MoFA, Farmer Line, and UDS.
Each institution has been assigned specific roles, ranging from developing tools for forecasting and monitoring pests to interacting directly with farmers for relevant information and generating knowledge and research for action.
Dr. Michael Yao Osae, Director of BNARI of GAEC, emphasized the significance of the memorandum of understanding, stating that it would enhance commitment to managing pests in the country. He highlighted the development of protocols and tools for forecasting pest incidence, aiming to mitigate the impact on yields and exports.
PPRSD Director Eric Bentsil Quaye urged active participation from all stakeholders in the agriculture value chain to respond swiftly to the challenges posed by pests and diseases, emphasizing the need to be proactive.
Chislain Tepa-Yotto, AiCCRA-Ghana Cluster Leader, emphasized the importance of the signed MoU in controlling climate-driven pests’ threats to agricultural productivity. He stressed the urgency of collaborative efforts to prevent and manage future invasions based on the devastating effects witnessed over the past 20 years in Africa.
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