International Water Management Institute (IWMI)’s Post

In the journey towards sustainable food production, one of the major challenges is the control of pests and diseases. According to recent data, Ghana alone loses a billion USD annually due to pest infestations and plant diseases, a shocking reminder of how vulnerable our food systems are. These losses not only impact food availability but also hinder the economic resilience of rural farmers, who are often hardest hit. Globally, it's estimated that 20-40% of crops are lost to pests each year. In Sub-Saharan Africa, a single pest like the Fall Armyworm can cause damage to 17.7 million tons of maize in one season, enough to feed millions. If left unchecked, the combined impact of pests and diseases threatens to undermine progress towards achieving zero hunger and the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But there’s hope in sustainable solutions: 🌱 Integrated Pest Management (IPM): By combining biological control, crop rotation, and careful pesticide use, farmers can reduce their dependence on chemicals while protecting yields. 🌍 Resilient Crop Varieties: Breeding pest-resistant and disease-tolerant crops is a long-term solution that can help reduce the need for chemical interventions and improve sustainability. 🔬 Biological Control: Using natural predators or biological agents to control pests, reducing the ecological impact and helping preserve biodiversity. 🤝 Farmer Education: Empowering farmers with the knowledge and tools to monitor and manage outbreaks more effectively can greatly reduce crop losses. To achieve truly sustainable agriculture, we need to integrate these solutions into farming practices and invest in innovation to build resilient food systems. Let's continue to work towards sustainable, healthy food systems for all! #SustainableAgriculture #PestManagement #FoodSecurity #CIGAR #IntegratedSolutions #FarmResilience #AgriculturalEngineering #GlobalFoodSystems #ZeroHunger #FoodLoss #RuralDevelopment

In #Ghana, many farmers still bear the brunt of the fall armyworm outbreak that rocked the agriculture sector in 2016. With our support, the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and 10 other organisations have developed a multi-stakeholder framework to preempt a similar calamity in the future. ➡ Read more about this framework: https://lnkd.in/eknhUvkJ

Ghana faces significant agricultural losses of USD 1 billion annually due to pests and diseases, a challenge exacerbated by climate change and invasive species. To address this, the Early Warning and Rapid Response System developed under the AICCRA framework aims to establish real-time pest monitoring, predictive modeling, and community engagement through farmer education and local partnerships. By integrating technology such as mobile apps and remote sensing, the system facilitates quick identification and response to outbreaks. Additionally, fostering public-private partnerships and regional cooperation enhances resource sharing and expertise, while continuous monitoring and feedback mechanisms ensure ongoing improvements. This proactive approach is essential for reducing losses, enhancing food security, and building resilience against climate change.

Did you know? El Niño, a recurring climate pattern every 2-7 years, has a global reputation for triggering extreme weather events. 🌧️☀️ In specific parts of Africa, some regions are particularly vulnerable, posing a significant threat to food security for millions of farmers and their families. Thankfully, the CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy Initiative offers beneficial information and advice through G.R.O.W.S.M.A.R.T to empower farmers facing challenges associated with El Niño. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e9MqbtnH #ElNino #Africa #Agriculture #Farmers #FoodSecurity #Climate #SustainableAgriculture CGIAR International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) USAID Solidaridad Southern Africa

Over the past decades, heavy and more frequent rainfall and dry spells in southern Africa have caused loss and damage to agriculture, livestock, the energy sector, food security and nutrition. Gender and migration scientist Dr Gracsious Maviza (nee Ncube) and climate change specialist Dr Siyaxola Gadu talked to The Conversation Africa about how this poses risks to stability and peace in the region. 💻 CGIAR System Organization #Climate #Nutrition

🌎🌱🌽🐮🐟🔥🌊🌪️ Did you know that disasters have caused losses of over USD 3.8 trillion in the agricultural sector between 1991 and 2021? 😱 That’s what the FAO Flagship Report on the Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security 2023 reveals, bringing the first-ever global estimation of the impact of disasters on agriculture. 📊 This report shows how disasters affect the production and sustainability of agriculture, as well as the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on food systems. 🌾🥛🍞 It also analyzes the underlying risks, such as climate change, pandemics, epidemics, and armed conflicts, and how they drive disaster risks in agriculture and food systems in general. 🌡️🦠🔫 But there is hope! 🙌 The report provides examples of actions and strategies to invest in resilience and proactively reduce risks in agriculture. It demonstrates how to integrate disaster risk reduction into agricultural practices and policies and calls for a better understanding of the context in which these solutions are implemented. 💪 If you want to learn more about this exciting and important report, you can check it out here: FAO. 2023. The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security 2023 – Avoiding and reducing losses through investment in resilience. Rome. https://lnkd.in/e2UGWJgH 📚 And don’t forget to raise awareness of the impact of disasters on agriculture and food security! 🙏👥 #FAO #agriculture #foodsecurity #disasters #resilience #climatechange #pandemics #conflicts

As #climate shocks intensify worldwide, contributing to exacerbation and proliferation of #plant pathogenic diseases like #bananaFusariumWilt (Foc TR4), our team is broadening its efforts to provide support to at-risk countries. Small Island Developing States (#SIDS) in the #Caribbean are particularly vulnerable to introduction of Foc TR4. FAO's Plant pathologist, Maged Elkahky was joined by other experts to train plant officers in the #Caribbean to control and manage this threat through prevention, early detection, and contingency planning. The training used the farmer field school (#FFS) approach. Ten Caribbean countries attended: #Barbados, #Belize, #Dominica, #Grenada, #Guyana, #Jamaica, #Saint Lucia, #Saint Vincent, #Suriname, and #Trinidad and Tobago. While the disease has not yet been reported in the #Caribbean, such trainings go a long way to keep the diseases at a bay or delay its #introduction and spread. Unlike other plant diseases that can be managed with pesticides or cultivation practices, Foc TR4 is particularly insidious. Once it invades the soil, it can persist for decades, banning banana production and devastating farmers' livelihoods. More here: https://lnkd.in/deN9Uh4u #Foodsecurity #4Betters - #BetterLife #BetterProduction #BetterNutrition #BetterEnvironment

🌎🌱🌽🐮🐟🔥🌊🌪️ Did you know that disasters have caused losses of over USD 3.8 trillion in the agricultural sector between 1991 and 2021? 😱 That’s what the FAO Flagship Report on the Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security 2023 reveals, bringing the first-ever global estimation of the impact of disasters on agriculture. 📊 This report shows how disasters affect the production and sustainability of agriculture, as well as the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on food systems. 🌾🥛🍞 It also analyzes the underlying risks, such as climate change, pandemics, epidemics, and armed conflicts, and how they drive disaster risks in agriculture and food systems in general. 🌡️🦠🔫 But there is hope! 🙌 The report provides examples of actions and strategies to invest in resilience and proactively reduce risks in agriculture. It demonstrates how to integrate disaster risk reduction into agricultural practices and policies and calls for a better understanding of the context in which these solutions are implemented. 💪 If you want to learn more about this exciting and important report, you can check it out here: FAO. 2023. The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security 2023 – Avoiding and reducing losses through investment in resilience. Rome. https://lnkd.in/e2UGWJgH 📚 And don’t forget to raise awareness of the impact of disasters on agriculture and food security! 🙏👥 #FAO #agriculture #foodsecurity #disasters #resilience #climatechange #pandemics #conflicts

#VantageOnFirstpost Cockroaches are Growing Immune to Insecticides. Here's Why | Vantage with Palki Sharma Record high temperatures in Spain are thought to be responsible for growing numbers of cockroaches in the country. Spanish authorities have reported a significant rise in infestations, up by 33% since last year. Residents believe it could lead to a serious public health issue, with more roach sightings being reported in both residential and commercial establishments. Hotter-than-average temperatures mean that the breeding season of the creatures is getting longer. The genetic resistance of these roaches to conventional insecticides has also been enhanced. Palki Sharma tells you why more and more insects are growing immune to what once used to kill them. --- Cockroach Infestations | Spain | Climate Change | Insecticides | Firstpost | World News | Vantage | Palki Sharma #cockroach #infestation #spain #climatechange #insecticides #firstpost #vantageonfirstpost #palkisharma #worldnews

This recent IMF report underscores a well-known yet deeply concerning reality: the poorest nations, which contribute the least to #climate change, are set to bear its most severe impacts. It’s estimated that their adaptation costs could exceed 1% of their annual GDP, and in some small island states, this figure could rise to as much as 20%. Given that the most vulnerable countries will face the highest relative costs for adaptation, it’s becoming increasingly crucial for the international community—both public and private sectors—to step in and help finance these efforts. This approach is more cost-effective than dealing with the substantial costs of reconstruction after disasters strike. In this context, #sovereign #ratings play a pivotal role by enabling countries to access the funding they need for their adaptation initiatives. It’s vital that these ratings take into account not only economic and fiscal indicators but also the risks posed by poor management of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. At EthiFinance Ratings, our new sovereign rating methodology ( https://lnkd.in/dB_ghjcd) incorporates a balanced combination of macroeconomic and fiscal KPIs alongside ESG KPIs. This comprehensive approach allows for a more precise and holistic assessment of #sovereign risk, reflecting both financial capability and resilience to climate and social challenges. This kind of analysis is essential in a world where the impact of climate change is growing, and where sustainability has become a key factor for long-term stability. #ClimateChange #IMF #ESG #SovereignRatings #ClimateAdaptation