Limpopo celebrates International Plant Health Day

The celebration sought to raise global awareness on protecting plant health to reduce poverty thereby ending hunger, boosting economic development, and protecting the environment. This was a collaboration between DALRRD, Limpopo Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Crop Life, farmers, and the community come together to commemorate the day.

The health and protection of plants are under threat unless drastic measures are to be taken urgently to protect the species. Approximately 40% of food crops are lost annually across the globe due to exotic pests and diseases such as oriental fruit fly, fall armyworm, tomato leaf miner (Tuta Absoluta), banana bunchy top virus, maize lethal necrosis disease (not present in South Africa), and Panama disease (not present in South Africa).

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Humans, and international travellers with unauthorised material that may serve as a carrier for pests and diseases are among contributing threats to biosecurity, agricultural production, food security, and market access. “The benefits from plants to humans cannot be over emphasised thus we owe it to ourselves, future generations, and the environment to safeguard plants from a diversity of risks ranging from pests, diseases, fires, alien plants, injudicious use of agrochemicals and depletion by humans,” said Mpho Sekgala, deputy director of Biosecurity, Promotion and Awareness at DALRRD.

Chairperson of the Mopani Farmers Association, Adam Mabunda, told the Herald that pests are indeed an enemy in food production and the main problem is that insecticides are costly. On March 29, 2022, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed May 12 as the annual International Day of Plant Health.