The State of Eritrea

NDEALIECPSOITI

Ministry of Agriculture Newsletter

A Monthly Newsletter prepared by the Public Relations Division, Issue No 41, November 2021

Eritrea Hosted 66th Session of the DesertLocust Control Organization for Eastern Africa

The 66th Regular Session of theDesert Locust Control Organization
for Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA) was
held in Asmara, Eritrea from 4th – 8thOctober, 2021. The regular session
incorporated two meetings. The
first was the executive committee
meeting which was held from 4th- 6th October, and the second was
the governing council of ministers
meeting which was conductedfrom 7th - 8th October, 2021.
All member countries: Eritrea,Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan,Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti, Somalia
and Uganda participated in bothsessions.
According to DLCO-EA documents,
the organization’s mission is toenhance food security in Eastern
Africa region by conducting
research,monitoringandforecasting, implementing control
operations against mandated
migratorypest
occurrences
mainly the Desert Locust, African

Armyworms, Quelea- quelea birds
and Tsetse fly.
During the first session of themeeting, the Director of DLCO-EA,
Dr. Stephen W. Njoka welcomed
the Executive committee members
and all invited guests to the 66th
Regular Session of the organization
which was held at Asmara Palace
Hotel. He also thanked theGovernment of Eritrea for hosting
the sessions.

and those significantly reduced
their arrears.

Mr. Heruy Asghedom, Director
General of the Agricultural
Extension Department at theMinistry of Agriculture of the Stateof Eritrea, on behalf of the hostcountry, delivered a welcoming
remark. Then, Mr. Heruy notedthat the devastating Desert
Locust outbreak that occurredin the region in 2020/2021 wasextremely dangerous and costed
Dr. Stephen briefed on the the member countries a lot. He
Migratory pests’ status, Research observed the need to review theactivities, Air unit matters, prevention and control strategies
Administrative Issues and the of the DLCO-EA so as to better
Organization’s finances of the serve the member Countries.
years 2020/2021. The Director
urged member countries for He emphasized that the secret of
the need to modernize the Eritrea’s success is the preventive
organization’s spray aircraft as a and ground control strategy;
way of strengthening the DLCO- involvement of the government
EA. Finally, he appreciated the bodies at high-profile level, and also
member countries that paid their dedication of experts, members of
2020/2021 contributions fully; the defense forces and the general

1The Chairman further noted thatlast year, the physical meeting
could not be held due to thepandemic and consequently
implementation of activities suchas recruitment of staff (DirectorandOperation
Coordinator)
remained pending for two years.

Mr. Heruy Asghedom
Director General of the Agricultural
Extension Department

public. Moreover, he mentioned
the weekly regular meeting of therelevant MoA bodies chaired byH.E Arefaine Berhe, the Ministerof Agriculture, as a vital regulatory
and enforcement platform in theprocess of control operations.
Following Mr. Heruy’s statement,a short video on Eritrea’sExperiences in Desert Locust
control was displayed.
The chairman of the executive
committee Mr. Collin Marangu,
Director of Plant Protection
Services,
Kenya’sMinistryofAgriculture,
Livestock,Fisheries
andCooperatives,
State Department for Crops
Development,
welcomed
alldelegates and participants, andthanked Eritrea for hosting themeeting during this difficult timeof the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the reporting period,member countries treated thefollowing estimated hectares ofinfestations: Eritrea (31,159),
Somalia (317,273), South Sudan(500), Ethiopia (902,215), Sudan(187,586), Djibouti (10), Kenya
According to his reports, there (73,160), Uganda (5,640) and
was a massive invasion of Desert Tanzania (1,324).
Locust swarms in 2020/21 andAlso, reports on the situations
stressed the DLCO-EA resources.
of Quelea quelea, African
Due to climatic change andArmyworm, Tsetse fly and Fall
cropping patterns, pests likearmy worm were presented.
Quelea quelea birds are also
In addition, the Division ofcontrolled throughout the year.
OperationalResearchwasThis becomes a tall order for
extensiveley discussed. In theDLCO-EA to control such pests infuture, the Division is expected tomember countries with only threecontinue to research on alternative
spray Aircraft.
ways of controlling migratory pests
in environmentally safe methods.
Agendas of the Meeting
Management staff presented
Furthermore, the management
matters arising from the previous
presented the status of the DLCOmeeting, which the Executive
EA Aircrafts, Aerial operations,
Committee was expected totraining of engineers and pilots,
consider. These included: theproposed program of work andDLCO-EA Strategic Plan of Julyreport.
2021 – 30th June, 2026, andToRs for restructuring the DLCO- Finally, the meeting concluded
EA. Moreover, the Executive urging country members to fulfill
Committee noted the need for their payments and with a brief
reinforcement of the new base in presentation report as well as
Somalia.
work plan from the Administration
and Finance of DLCO-EA.
With regards to the proper use ofpesticides, the delegates noted
Meeting of Council of Ministers
that it would benefit the region if
these pesticides are shared with The meeting of the council ofthe front-line countries whenever Ministers was held from 7th tothere is an invasion of locusts and 8th of October 2021 at the samevenue.
need of pesticides.
Director of DLCO-EA Dr. Stephen W.
Njoka welcomed the participating
Ministers and other stakeholders.
He, then, delivered brief remarkson the situation of Migratory pests
in the region, Research activities,
Duringthemeeting,
the Air Unit matters, Administrativemanagement
presented
the Issues and the Organization’s
progress report for 2020/2021 Finances during the 2020/2021
and Programme of Work for period.
2021/2022.
The Executive Committee also
submitted to the Council to take
NOTE and URGE member countries
to settle their financial obligations
to the organization.

Mr. Collin Marangu
Chairman of the executive committee

Control Operations2not, as human food as well. Using
pesticides is harmful to humansafety and the environment.
Finally, H.E Arefaine Berheunderlined the importance ofresearch and said, “if we put ourresources together, strengthen
the capabilities of the front-line
countries and if we forge stronger
cooperation with our regionaland global partners with similar
mandates, the challenge is notbeyond our means.”

H.E Arefaine Berhe
Minister of Agriculture of the State of Eritrea

Minister of Agriculture of the Stateof Eritrea, H.E Arefaine Berhe,in his official opening speech,
acknowledged participation of all
relevant ministers from member
states.

from the scouts at the front line
to the Head Quarters, and viseversa. Besides, he mentioned thecollaborative efforts of experts,
the local population and membersof the defense forces.

Following, H.E Fred Bwino
Kyakulaga (MP) State Minister,
Ministry of Agriculture, AnimalIndustry and Fisheries of Uganda;
and Chairman of DLCO-EA
Governing Council of Ministers
delivered a speech.

He welcomed all participants tothe historical and beautiful city ofAsmara for the 66th Regular Sessionof the DLCO-EA Governing Councilof Ministers and acknowledged
the warm welcome accorded to all
H.E Arefaine Berhe noted that this Moreover, the Minister informed
the delegates by Eritrea in generalyear’s meeting is conducted in the council that Eritrea isand by H. E Arefaine Berhe in
the aftermath of a terrible locust now introducing the use ofparticular.
upsurge that has caused huge metarhizium (green muscle) anddamage on crops and rangelands hopper sucker not only to control He then, commended thein the region; and the COVID-19 locusts but to eventually use them Executive Committee and thesituation that still prevails. as animal feed source, and why
Therefore, this experience andthose before dictate all member
countries to put their bestpractices together in order toeffectively win the battle against
DLCO’s mandated pests in general,and desert locust in particular.
Furthermore, he briefly shared
Eritrea’smodestexperience
regarding control of desert locust,a strategy which is ground control.
He underscored that Eritrea
carried out extensive control
operations against the locally bredas well as the invading ones.
He, then, stressed the effective
and regular flow of information

H.E Fred Bwino Kyakulaga (MP) State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, AnimalIndustry and Fisheries of Uganda

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million to respond to the locust
upsurge. This support was able tosave around 5 million tons worthof grain production, keeping about
2.3 million rural families out ofpoverty and safeguarding nearly$1.7 billion in domestic income for
affected countries”
Furthermore, he underlinedthat it is essential to ensure
the preparedness against any
potential future upsurge of theDesert Locust similar to that of
2019-2021.
DLCO-EAManagementfor
successfully holding three virtualsessions. During these sessions,many issues were resolved,
which allowed the Organization
to continue implementing its
mandate in the Region including
controlling the worst DesertLocusts outbreak in 70 years. He
also expressed his condolence andsympathy for the aircraft accident
which led to the death of a longserving pilot and hospitalization oftwo surviving members.
Moreover, he welcomed Somalia,
as it will mark its full reintegration
into the Organization after anabsence of close to 30 years.

Dr. Mamoon Alalawi, Executive
Secretary of FAO Commission
for Controlling the Desert Locustin the Central Region (CRC)
also addressed the 66th Regular
Session of the DLCO-EA Councilof Ministers representing hisorganization.
He outlined the seriousness ofthe Desert Locust upsurge whichhappened during 2019-2021
and exposed 23 countries towidespread severe infestations
and dense desert locust swarms,
where more than 5.3 million
hectares were controlled in theregion.

He noted that the locust upsurge
He noted that DLCO-EA continued of 2019-2021 affected around 20.2
to promote food security in the million people with the threat ofRegion through its noble mandate acute food insecurity due to theof combating the major migratory severe damage that threatenedpests. Thanks to its efforts in crops, grain stocks and naturalmonitoring,
forecastingand pastures.
controlling of the major migratory
pests, the organization has saved He further expressed that relevant
the member countries millions of governmental, non-governmental
and international institutions,dollars by protecting their crops.
partners and organizations have
Finally, he appreciated the contributed to preventing andcontinued
andrenewed mitigating the locust upsurge’s
collaboration of development potential damage and opposing
partners; mainly the FAO and effects.
USAID for which their combined
support has increased the He said, “Among these efforts
capacity of DLCO-EA Research and were the appeals made by theFAO which mobilized USD 243Operations.

4Finally, he urged to strengthen
the collaboration between CRC
and DLCO-EA in preventive Desert
Locust management.
The council of the ministers thenwent on to discuss the DLCO-EA
work plan and other issues raisedby the executive committee; andat the end came up with important
decisions and deliberations.
It is to be recalled that theMinistry of Agriculture arranged atour for the delegates to Asmara
city and a coffee ceremony alongwith brief cultural shows in itsHorse Breeding Center located inVillagio, Asmara.
The Public Relations Division of theMinistry of Agriculture conductedshort interviews with Dr. Mamoon
AlAlawi, Executive Secretary ofFAO-CRC, and Dr. Stephen W.
Njoka, Director of DLCO-EA.
• Can you introduce us withyourself, please.
- My Name is Mamoon AlAlawi.
I am the Executive Secretary of
FAO-CRC of the desert locust
commission based in Egypt.
• What is the mission of FAO-CRC?
-FAO-CRC is a commission thatconsists of 16 countries; namely:
Eritrea,Ethiopia,Somalia,
Djibouti, Egypt, Sudan; and allDr. Mamoon AlAlawi
Executive Secretary of FAO-CRC

Arab countries: Saudi Arabia,Yemen, Kuwait, Qatar, United
Arab Emirates, Iraq and also Syria,
Lebanon and Jordan. The main
mission of the commission is toharmonize activities among the 16
members of the commission.
Also, to support them in terms oftechnical or improved technicalcapacity and financially during
outbreaks and invasions.
Generally, we are a commission
looking for all member states
to be in a better position in casethere is outbreak of locust insideor outside of the commission.

• How would you rate the I was here six times. I always enjoy
achievements of the meeting?
to be here. I really appreciate thededication of the MoA-Migratory- From my point of view, the Control staff in general and H.E
meeting went very well with Minister of Agriculture and thethe commitment of all member Director General of Agriculturalcountries
tosupportand Extension
Departmentinstrengthen the DLCO-EA. From particular. I wish a brilliant future
the work plan that was approved for this country. As well, I hope I
by the ministers, I believe we have will be part of the team whichroom to improve in all aspects is supposed to introduce newof technical activities to support technologies to the MoA, desert
member countries for better locust control unit.
preparedness to any infestation in
the future. For CRC, we have agreed • Please tell us your full name andto strengthen our cooperation in country of origin?
terms of new technologies andprobably in the near future, the My name is Dr. Stephen W. Njoka.
DLCO-EA will benefit from the I am a Kenyan; and Director of thedrone that is already in operation Desert Locust Control Organization
for East Africa (DLCO-EA).
in CRC member countries like theSudan and Saudi Arabia. And,we will invite them to be part ofthis program in the future for thebenefit of the member countries
especially for the front-line
countries that face Desert locust
on a regular basis such as Eritrea,
Somalia and Ethiopia.

• What is the relationship between • What can you say about thethe FAO-CRC and DLCO-EA?
experience of Eritrea in controlling- The commission is based on the desert locust?
trust fund. Since all membersof DLCO-EA are members ofFAO-CRC, we target the mostimportant agricultural pest thatis the Desert locust. So, we havean understanding to help eachother and also benefit from eachother. For this reason, I am here
today to participate in the DLCOEA 66th Ministerial meeting.
Actually, in the past we had many
activities that were conductedwith good cooperation between
us. We continuously planned
to harmonize our activities.
For instance, CRC has recently
prepared drones for survey andmonitoring desert locust in thebreeding area.

- Eritrea is one of the best
countries that are dealing with
the Desert locusts. Despite ofshortages of facilities, I commend
the desert locust control teams.
I remember spending one nightwith them in the breeding area.
They were doing well with limited
resources even better than somecountries having everything.
From our side, as a commission,
we have a master plan for desert
locust control on the field, and thepriority is for the countries which
are working effectively on theground like Eritrea.

Dr. Stephen W. Njoka
Director, (DLCO-EA)• What does DLCO-EA do?
- DLCO-EA is an organizationof member countries of theEast Africa that include Eritrea,Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, SouthSudan, Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania
and Uganda. Our mission is tocontrol the migratory pests,
particularly the Desert locust,Quelea-quelea,
Armyworms,
and Tsetse fly; and we havebeen dealing with them over the
past 60 years. Subsequently, webelieve we are contributing in foodsecurity. DLCO-EA is the oldest
inter-regional organization in theregion and we get support mostly• Any final words you would like tofrom the member countries,
say?
and the rest from development
This is not my first time in Eritrea.
partners.

5• What was the meeting about?
- The meeting is a regular meeting
conducted every year to present
our work plan and budget andthen to approve them before
we go for implementation. The
meeting was conducted for fivedays. The first three days wereexecutives meeting; and the lasttwo days were dedicated for theministers’ meeting.
This meeting went very well, manycases and issues were discussed,
and our work plan and budget
for the next financial year werepresented. After discussions in
the ministerial meeting, DLCO-EA
work plan and budget were alsoapproved.

Somalia is one of the founding
members of this organization. Dueto its internal issues, it has beenout of the place since 1991. This
was also part of the considerationsin the meeting.
• What are the major achievementsof the organization?
- DLCO-EA made a difference
on the lives of many people ofthe member states in termsof controlling pests. More
importantly, the organization
enables us to interact with ourtechnical partners within andoutside the DLCO-EA. It createsa building bridge; and workstogether with CRC-FAO and otherpartners to overcome outbreaks
and infestations.

Last year, for instance, theinfestations of locust were very
huge; and affected us all. Theupsurge affected countries like
Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania which
didn’t see such a serious outbreakfor the past 70 years. Even though
it caused some harm, thanks
to the strong dedication of themember states and support ofdevelopment partners, we finallymanaged to control the upsurge.
• If you have final words to say?
- I would like to thank theGovernment of the State of Eritrea
for its hospitality. The tour waswonderful and the coffee wasgreat, we enjoyed it very much.
***Coffee ceremony with at the Horse Breeding Center of the Ministry of Agriculture, Eritrea.

Editor-In-Chief
Ermias Solomon, Director of Public Relations Division
Email:- ersohab@gmail.com, Tel: 182225/ 07143877/ 07182662, Asmara, Eritrea
Editorial Board
Filmawit Measho, Hara Weldetnsae, Shushan Okbay
Photo credit: Aradom Bereket, Habteab Andemariam, Thomas Mehari, MoA Photo Archives

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