PEST RISK ANALYSIS IN MALAWI: Practice and Experiences J. Masangwa & D. Kamangira

Pest risk analysis (PRA) is a process of evaluating biological or other scientific and economic evidence to determine whether an organism is pest, whether it should be regulated and the strength of any phytosanitary measure to be taken against it. In Malawi, this task is done by the NPPO whose members are: Department of Agricultural Research Services (DARS) Agricultural Research Extension Trust (ARET) Forest Research Institute of Malawi (FRIM) Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR).

Stage 1: (Initiation process). When there is food crisis and country wants to import from non-trading partner. When there is a donation from a certain country known to have a certain pest. Neighbouring country or a trading partner report of the new pest

PRA PROCESS -Involves identifying the pest(s) and pathways that are of quarantine concern and also consideration for risk analysis in relation to the PRA area. - National Pest lists is compared with that of the trading partner

Stage 2 : (Risk assessment). Categorization of individual pests to determine whether the criteria for a quarantine pest are satisfied. - The pests are then categorized as Quarantine pest, Regulated non-quarantine pest and non-regulated pest. Evaluation of the probalility of a pest entry, - establishment and spread, -potential economic consequences - the value of industries which can be affected. - the damage the pest is known to cause environment. - cost of management strategies

Stage 3: (Risk Management). Identifying management options for reducing the risks identified during risk assessment. Efficacy, feasibility and impact of management options evaluation is done to select those that are appropriate.

A total of 10 PRAs were conducted based upon identification of pest. PRA carried out in Malawi within 12 months A total of 10 PRAs were conducted based upon identification of pest. They were on: Quarantine pests associated with importation of: Fresh mango fruits, Banana, Pineapples, Potato true seeds Grapes into Malawi

NPPO PRA Team NPPO Head & IPPC FP NRC for Plant Protection Commodity Produce Inspection and Quarantine Head Principal Plant Pathologist Produce and Inspection Head 2 Entomologists Plant Pathology head for Agricultural Research and Extension Trust Entomologist from FRIM Food Safety Research Scientist

PRA Experiences The team takes 3 weeks to have a full PRA done. Two members are tasked to independently do PRA on a commodity. Each person is given 5 days after which they make submission of copies of their PRAs to NPPO Head. NPPO head send a copy of conditions to the other NPPO head of the trading partner.  

EXPECTATIONS ON HOW PRA CAN BE IMPROVED If all the members are given opportunity of conducting PRA and then meet to synthesize one PRA which takes on board all the inputs from the members. REGIONAL PRA Malawi has never participated in conducting a regional PRA. PRA with Zambia NPPO on maize, groundnuts and rice Regional PRA can be the good notion taking into account that the conditions in regional countries ie. SADC are similar though countries are at different levels in terms of capacity.

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