The 80th Executive Committee Meeting of the International Red Locust Control Organization for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCO-CSA) has declared regional pest control a “matter of security,” emphasizing the urgent need to safeguard food production systems across member states.
Speaking during the official opening, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Prof. Dr. Obert Jiri, outlined a two-fold strategy to bolster the region’s resilience against migratory pests such as locusts, armyworms, and quelea birds.
“We must enhance our technical capabilities. This means investing in advanced surveillance technologies such as satellite imagery and drone patrols to complement our ground teams.We must strengthen our early warning systems to ensure that the first sign of an upsurge is met with the first wave of a controlled response,”said Prof. Jiri.
The Permanent Secretary emphasised that internal technological upgrades must be matched with external diplomatic initiatives to ensure cross-border coordination in pest management.
“Externally, we must pursue proactive diplomacy and technical cooperation.I strongly urge the Organization, with the support of Member States, to initiate and formalise coordination mechanisms with technical counterparts in non-member states from which invasions may originate. Pest control is a matter of regional security, and our outreach must reflect this urgency. A breach in one area, if unchecked, becomes a crisis for all,”he added
The declaration marks a significant policy shift, framing pest management not merely as an agricultural issue but as a critical component of regional stability and food security.
The meeting, attended by representatives from IRLCO-CSA member countries, reviewed ongoing control operations, assessed current threats, and discussed pathways for enhancing early warning systems and regional collaboration.
Experts at the forum agreed that technological innovation and multilateral cooperation remain essential in preventing devastating pest invasions that threaten millions of hectares of cropland annually.
IRLCO-CSA continues to serve as the region’s frontline defense against transboundary pest outbreaks, coordinating surveillance, research, and rapid response among its member states
