Page 21 - AA 2025 Year Book Summary
P. 21
Egypt
Strategies for Red Palm Weevil Management
In a pioneering step, the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) un-
veiled innovative strategies to com-
bat the red palm weevil during a
workshop held in collaboration with
the Ministry of Agriculture and Land
Reclamation
The workshop saw extensive par-
ticipation from agricultural experts
and pest management specialists,
all united in facing this destructive
pest, reflecting FAO’s commitment to
achieving food security and sustain- • Innovative Solutions: Participants trees, stages and symptoms of red
ability in agriculture. explored advanced research on palm weevil infestation, preven-
innovative detection methods, tive measures, and optimal use of
The workshop focused on showcas- monitoring techniques, and ef-
ing a range of innovative solutions fective control strategies. Discus- traps and other control methods
and contemporary techniques in red sions highlighted the economic such as injections. This practical
palm weevil management. Partici- and social impacts of this pest, training enhanced participants’
pants emphasized the importance of stressing the need for coordinated practical knowledge, strengthen-
these strategies in protecting palm responses. ing their capabilities in managing
cultivation, a major income source for risks associated with the red palm
many farmers in Egypt. • Capacity Building: The work- weevil.
shop served as a comprehensive • Farmer Empowerment: The work-
The workshop aimed to equip par-
ticipants with the knowledge and training platform for pest control shop focused on introducing the
engineers and agricultural advi-
tools necessary to combat the red sors, including a field visit to a concept of farmer field schools,
palm weevil through sustainable farm infested with the red palm designed to enhance participa-
practices. Key highlights of the work- weevil. Participants learned about tory practical training. It empha-
shop included: sized the role of these schools in
the importance of applying good encouraging farmers to actively
• Regional Knowledge Sharing: Par- agricultural practices, regular in-
ticipants discussed the outcomes spections, visual checks on palm participate in red palm weevil
of the regional program for red management programs and adopt
palm weevil management in the good agricultural practices. The
Near East and North Africa. Best importance of this approach was
practices and advanced tech- stressed to ensure the successful
niques developed during the transfer of modern techniques and
project were exchanged, includ- innovative methods to combat this
ing integrated pest management pest in a participatory and simpli-
strategies and advanced detec- fied manner for local farmers.
tion techniques, contributing to This event is part of the activities of
reducing the spread of the red FAO’s regional program on red palm
palm weevil. weevil management in the Near East
• Awareness and Education: The and North Africa. The program aims
workshop aimed to raise aware- to support national efforts and assist
ness among participants about countries in improving sustainable
FAO’s efforts to combat the red red palm weevil control strategies
palm weevil in Egypt and region- and programs. The program seeks
ally, providing a comprehensive to reduce the spread of this pest and
analysis of the challenges associ- eliminate it by providing stakehold-
ated with this pest and the impor- ers at both national and regional lev-
tance of coordination among dif- els with the necessary tools for sus-
ferent entities to address it. tainable weevil control.
Arab Agriculture 2025 19
