NAIROBI, July 26 -- Delegates from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an East African bloc, convened on Friday in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, to initiate a four-day meeting aimed at enhancing cooperation to combat the menace of transboundary pests in the region.

The gathering brought together senior government officials from the eight-member bloc to minimize the threat posed by migratory pests such as desert locusts, quelea birds, fall army worms, and African army worms.

Abdi Fidar, coordinator of IGAD Food Security, Nutrition and Resilience Analysis Hub, said that despite efforts undertaken individually by member states at the national level, it is clear that the challenge of pests extends beyond borders and necessitates collaborative regional approaches.

"This calls for collective action aimed at establishing a coordinating framework for effectively managing the scourge," Fidar said.

He added that the agricultural landscape in the Horn of Africa grapples with significant challenges posed by transboundary pests, which poses a severe threat to the region's already fragile food security and agricultural productivity.

Moses Mwesigwa, director of Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa, emphasized the critical importance of regional collaboration and unified action in mitigating the impact of transboundary pests, given their ability to freely traverse borders facilitated by shared climatic conditions.

Mwesigwa said that the region remains at high risk of migratory pest infestations and invasions exacerbated by climate change.

Ibrahim Elmi Mohamed, permanent secretary of Djibouti's Ministry of Agriculture Livestock Water and Fisheries, called for joint aerial surveys and applied research on migratory pests to enhance control of the menace.

Elmi added that Djibouti has mobilized over 8 million U.S. dollars to undertake various locust control actions such as the procurement of aircraft and vehicles equipped with locust sprays.

Somalia State Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Asad Abdirisaq Mohamed said that his country as a frontline state fully recognizes the need for stronger collaboration and coordination to curb the breeding and spread of these pests, which pose significant economic risks by devastating crops, pastures, forests, and vegetation across the region.

  - Xinhua