Damascus hosts commission for controlling the desert Locust in the central region
Syria, Agriculture, 3/18/2002

In collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture in Syria and the World Food Organization FAO, and under the supervision of the Minister of agriculture Nour Eddine Mouna, the Commission for controlling the Desert Locust in the Central region ( CRC) held its 23rd session in Damascus on March 9 through 14.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives for Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Sudan, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates UAE.

In a statement to Arabic News (ArabicNews.com), Christian Pantenius, EMPRES / CR Coordinator, FAO Regional Office for the Near East ( RNE) said:" I am the coordinator of the Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary animals and plans pests and disease." He said that this program has launched by FAO in 1995 and in this program also comprises one component which is dealing with the desert Locust and this is different from the CRC. It is not a permanent structure but helps it with a support from the donor community. It is providing assistance to the locust affected countries and the commission.

He continued that the EMPRES program and the CRC are working closely together in all aspects of promoting improved preventive control of the desert Locust in the central Region in the Middle East and North Africa ( MENA).

He elaborated that Syria is not a member of EMPRES, but Syria is, of course, benefiting from EMPRES through preventing invasion or desert Locust swarms from those countries which are harboring the most important breeding areas of Locust. So by controlling them effectively the desert Locust already in those areas of origin. So by this Syria is benefiting from the EMPRES program..The Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant pests and Diseases ( EMPRES ) was proposed by FAO's Director General when he took office in 1994 to address concerns that had arisen during the 1986- 1989 plague. This plague started in the Red Sea region, triggered by favorable rainfall in the key breeding areas. The major concerns were related to the high costs of locust control, the safety and environmental impact of the chemical pesticides used, and the capacity of the existing organizations to deal with the DL program in an efficient and effective manner. As a precursor to EMPRES, the 23rd Session of the DLCC in 1992 had called for greater attention to recession period monitoring and the re-establishment of preventive control systems in all of the affected regions. In 1994 the FAO Council endorsed the Director General's proposal for an EMPRES program, and pilot activities started in 1995. It was decided to establish the first donor assisted field program in nine Central Region countries around the Red Sea because this area was thought to have been the source of several previous plagues. EMPRES Central Region ( EMPRES/ CR) has been operational since 1997, with the following goals:" to reduce the risk of Desert Locust plagues emanating from the Central region; To mitigate food security, economic capabilities and environmental concerns in the Central region and beyond; To strengthen the capacities and capabilities of the national, regional and international components of the Desert Locust management system to implement effective and efficient preventive control strategies, based on early warning and timely, environmentally, sound, early control interventions.

EMPRES/ CR has been designed as a collaborative program in which locust-affected countries through their EMPRES Liaison Officers, regional organizations ( the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central region ( CRC) and the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa ( DLCO- EA ), donors through Trust Fund and bilateral support and FAO, participate in the development of sustainable strategies.

In a similar statement to Arabic News, the secretary of the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region FAO Regional Office for the Near East ( RNE) Munir Butrous said that normally all session are held in Cairo because the CRC seat is in Cairo. He indicated that Syria is a member in the CRC and it is a key country in the Commission. He added that Djibouti will be the 14th member. He added that this commission meets every two countries. He added that the participants discussed all activities, what had been achieved and what not; the impeding constraints, training, researches, survey budget, expenditures and the work-plan for the two coming years..

Training, research and Joint Survey were the prominent functions carried. Several National and regional Training courses were executed. These programs targeted to upgrade the standard and raise the capacities of Locust officers in the member countries. High degree training ( M. Sc) was as well done. A number of M. Sc scholarships were granted. Two successful Joint Survey programs were carried out. Locust officers from Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Oman and Saudi Arabia participated in these activities.

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