icipe in partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), have jointly identified a range of strategic factors to be addressed and, accordingly, initiated a variety of initiatives, to resolve the growing threat of plant parasitic nematodes in sub Saharan Africa (SSA).
Plant parasitic nematodes, microscopic soil dwelling worms, are among the most widespread and economically important crop pests globally. These pests infect plant roots causing direct yield loss by preventing adequate water and nutrient uptake by the plant. Nematodes also inflict indirect damage to plants due to secondary fungal or bacterial infections transmitted through wounds that arise after the pests feed on plant roots.
In SSA, although there are no reliable estimates, the impact of nematodes is certainly significant. While a complex community of nematode species has been in existence, emerging threats, such as the invasive potato cyst nematode (reported in East Africa for the first time in 2014), and climate change, are expected to increase the nematode problem across the region.
The components highlighted by icipe and IITA include: postgraduate level training of nematologists; support for African academic institutions to effectively mainstream nematology as a discipline; enhancing capacity of farmers, national extension services and relevant government agencies in nematode management; knowledge dissemination to researchers in cross cutting disciplines and institutions, and to other stakeholders like donors.
In accordance, over the past six months, icipe and IITA have implemented various joint activities as outlined below.
Introductory seminar on nematodes
In January 2018, Dr Roland Perry, based at University of Hertfordshire, UK, and a Visiting Professor at Ghent University, Belgium, conducted a seminar at icipe titled “The good, the bad and the ugly, the world of nematodes”. The presentation was significant as it provided a detailed introduction to nematodes to researchers and scholars across icipe’s Themes and programmes, and colleagues from IITA. The talk offered an overview of nematodes that parasitise people, animals and insects. Specifically, the presentation focused on plant parasitic nematodes, discussing their biology and host-parasite interactions. Particular attention was given to potato cyst nematodes and nematode parasites of banana, which are current core areas of research by icipe and IITA. The presentation also outlined control and management options for plant parasitic nematodes including: use of nematicides, biological control, employment of resistant cultivars, crop rotation and soil disinfestation. In addition, Prof. Perry discussed entomopathogenic nematodes; beneficial species that have developed an association with insect killing bacteria, and which, therefore, are effective in biological control of suceptible insect pests.
Seminar on capacity building in plant nematology in Kenya
Co-organised by icipe and IITA with Kenyatta University, Kenya, and Ghent University, Belgium, the event combined perspectives from the academic, research, public and private sectors, revealing challenges and opportunities for advancing nematology and nematode management in Kenya and the region. Five Kenyan universities – University of Eldoret, University of Nairobi, Embu University, Moi University and Kenyatta University – discussed their perceptions about establishing nematology, a largely neglected discipline in Kenyan academic institutions, as a core area of study. The public sector, represented by Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), presented an overview of success and obstacles in the provision of extension services to address nematodes. Private sector partners: SGS (K) Ltd, The Real IPM Company and Syngenta, described their current and potential involvement, available solutions nematode management, and possibilities to support capacity building. Representatives from Ghent University described the International MSc in Agro- and Environmental Nematology (UGent) highly rated for its outstanding Unrivalled in its provision of nematology expertise to SSA, Since 1992, 168 students from 20 African countries, have graduated in nematology from Ghent University.. Overall, the seminar formed a basis towards the development of a strategic approach to nematodes in Kenya.
| 
|
Awareness and training for flower industry
In May 2018, icipe and IITA, in partnership with Syngenta, started a new thrust of activities, to provide expert training on integrated pest management of nematodes in the floriculture industry in Kenya. The sector is one of the country’s most important, earning around USD 0.5 billion annually, and providing employment for more than 500,000 people, while impacting over 2 million livelihoods. However, nematodes are a hidden problem in cut flower cultivation, where they reduce and compromise yield quality and quantity. For example, while Kenya remains the lead exporter of cut roses to the European Union, with 38% market share, 17% of all cut roses produced in the country is lost to nematodes. The icipe-IITA-Syngenta training was attended by about 90 participants, including production and farm managers, plant pathologists and agronomists, from across the country.
