Senegal strengthens its capacity in pest risk analysis

Senegal strengthens its capacity in pest risk analysis

A training course on pest risk analysis (PRA) began in Dakar on 9 September at the plant health training centre run by the Plant Protection Directorate (DPV).This capacity building is part of the STDF/PG/946 Senegal project implemented by COLEAD and is aimed at experts from the Technical Working Group on Pest Risk Analysis. The objectives are to support the setting up of a technical and interdisciplinary working group on pest risk analysis and to develop/run a training course on the stages and conduct of a PRA, in accordance with the standards in force and the tools available (international standards for phytosanitary measures -NIMP, EPPO, COLEAD, CABI, etc.).

This new training course enabled the group to: understand the principles of PRA, know where to collect the necessary data, identify phytosanitary risks (list pests, analyse introduction and propagation routes, etc.), assess phytosanitary risks and determine risk management measures (including contingency plans and communication).

Following the training, the working group was asked to carry out eight PRAs, again as part of the STDF programme, namely 4 PRAs on a commodity chain/pest export pairing and 4 PRAs on a commodity chain/pest import pairing.

‘Senegal’s development will come from its young people’, said Mr Ngom, Director of the Plant Protection Directorate, at the opening of the COLEAD training course under the STDF programme.

The “Strengthening phytosanitary capacity to promote exports of horticulture products from Senegal” project is funded by the WTO’s Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) at the request of the Senegalese Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Sovereignty’s (MAERSA) Directorate of Plant Protection.