1) Maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND) poses a threat to food security in Eastern Africa by affecting maize, a key crop. 2) The disease has spread to several countries in the region since 2012. 3) A regional response is proposed to manage and control MLND through a three-pronged approach of preparedness, immediate responses, and long-term resilience building and mitigation strategies. This would help reduce the disease's impact on food security and limit its spread.

1. KENYA
REPRESENTATION
Regional response for
management and
control of MLN disease
in Eastern Africa
Wilson
Ronno, PhD
Tuesday 17 March 2015

2. KENYA
REPRESENTATION
Introduction:
• Maize is consumed in all countries in the
region (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan
Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC), Ethiopia and Madagascar,
• Threats to this crop have immediate
significant and strong social, economic and
political repercussions,
• Limited knowledge on symptoms and control
measures for the disease.

3. Spread of MLN disease in Eastern Africa Region
Country MCMV/SCMV/MLN Year References
Kenya MLN 2012 Wangai et al., 2012
Tanzania MLN 2012
CIMMYT Task Force
Report to Ministry of
Agriculture, Tanzania
Uganda MLN 2012
Asea, Godfrey:
Presentation, MLN
disease Workshop,
Nairobi; Feb 12-13, 2013
Rwanda MLN 2013
Ngabiyasonga, Claver.
Presentation, MLN
Training Workshop,
Nairobi; July 1, 2013
South Sudan SCMV 2013 FAO Sudan
DRC MLN 2014
Kumar: Presentation,
FAO Regional meeting,
Nairobi, 2014
Ethiopia MLN 2014
Gitonga, K. USDA-Foreign
Agricultural service, 2014

4. KENYA
REPRESENTATION
Objective:
To reduce the impact of MLND on
food security and restrict the
spread within and across
countries through a regional
approach

5. KENYA
REPRESENTATION
Mitigation method:
• Three-prong approach based on Disaster Risk
Reduction/Management (DRR/M) operational
framework pillars:
• Preparedness
• Immediate responses
• Resilience building and mitigation

6. 1. Preparedness:
•Surveillance,
•Issue early
warning
information
•Awareness
creation

7. 1. Preparedness:
•Surveillance,
•Issue early
warning
information
•Awareness
creation

8. 2. Immediate responses:
•Promote GAP
• Support crop
diversification
strategies

9. 3. Resilience building and
mitigation:
•Research to
understand the
disease and
manage (breeding
etc)
•Enhance capacity
to seek for
sustainable
solutions

10. KENYA
REPRESENTATION
Achievements:
• 931 extension workers trained in 4 countries on
related interventions and practices. (931 EW x 10
FGs x 20 farmers x 4 countries = 186,200 male and
female farmers ) against target 80,000 farmers
• 600,000 indirect beneficiaries, through awareness
raising campaigns
• Kenyan interventions related to the establishment of
a task force and awareness creation was used as an
example and basis for other countries
• The project made use of the existing materials
(adjusted to fit the contexts of the targeted countries)
and knowledge available in Kenya.

11. KENYA
REPRESENTATION
Recommended Mitigation Strategies:
• Strengthen seed movement rules and
regulations
• Establish national and regional
coordination platforms
• Sensitizations and awareness raising
• Research to develop efficient, effective
and sustainable mechanisms
• Scientific information exchange

12. KENYA
REPRESENTATION
Stakeholders and Partnerships
• Ministries of Agriculture,
• FAO
• NGOs
• NRIs, NPPOs, NPHRCs,
• RROs, relevant IAROs,
• Universities
• Public and private seed companies,
• Farmers and Farmer organizations

13. Small holder maize producer

14. KENYA
REPRESENTATION
END