Collective efforts must be given to combat rapidly spreading, cross-border
animal and plant pests and diseases that could harm global food security.

This is according to the assessment of representatives from over 20
countries who attended a meeting organized by the United Nations - Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Organization for Animal Health,
Bioversity International, World Banana Forum and other donors last month.
The meeting aimed at mobilizing more support to effectively and sustainably
prevent, manage, and eradicate major pests and diseases that affect food
production. These culprits include fall armyworm (FAW), peste des petits
ruminants (PPR) also called sheep and goat plague, and banana fusarium wilt
(FW) which cause fast infestation even to new areas, thus affecting
livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers.

With such alarming concerns, FAO developed five-year programs to support
farmers and governments, and prevent further damage from the diseases,
requiring multi-million dollar funding from donors to be implemented.

[www.fao.org]