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Objective & Policy

- Events -

 

Plant Protection Events

Report

on

National Citrus Course

Hammamet, Tunisia, April 15-19, 2024

 

 

General presentation :
The National Citrus Course (NCC), organized annually by the Technical Center of Citrus (CTA) for the past 13 years, has become a key event for professionals in the citrus-growing sector. This gathering serves as an essential platform for practitioners, researchers, and engineers to exchange knowledge and ideas
The program fosters collaboration among agronomists, researchers, and growers to enhance the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices in Tunisia's citrus sector.

Participants:
Attendees represented governmental, semi-governmental, and private organizations operating within the citrus industry.

Program :
The NCC featured diverse sessions and discussions on citrus cultivation, focusing on the adoption of best practices and innovations. The training spanned four days of theoretical learning and one day of fieldwork, covering all disciplines related to the citrus crop, including production, protection, sanitation, economics, and innovation.
Citrus protection was a central theme of the program, with two days dedicated to high-quality presentations. The crop protection themes addressed the following key aspects:
- Importance of Resistant Rootstocks in Citrus
- Biological control practices
- Major fungal diseases and management
- Management of citrus pests
- Good phytosanitary practices
- Strategies to reduce pesticides in citrus production
- Precision agriculture and pesticide application
- Post-harvest practices for disease prevention

Presentations were delivered by the CTA engineers and teacher-researchers from INAT and ISACh-M, showcasing the latest developments in the sector from both research and practical perspectives. Following each presentation, productive exchanges between participants and speakers enabled attendees to broaden and deepen their knowledge.

Conclusion :
At the conclusion of this national course, participants and speakers emphasized its importance in updating knowledge and facilitating the exchange of ideas among professionals. They also highlighted the practical aspects of the course, which effectively complemented the theoretical knowledge provided./p>

 

 

Report of Prof. Hanène Chaabane-Boujnah
INAT, University of Carthage, Tunis
Tunisia

 

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Report

on

Workshop on “Prevention of AMR and Integrated Pest Management and Presentation of the Good Agricultural Practices” (AMR- MPTF UNJP/TUN/047/UNJ)

Hammamet, Tunisia, December 10-11, 2024

 

 

Context :

The management of crop pests and diseases is essential to ensure the sustainability and safety of agricultural production. The adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a sustainable approach, helps reduce pesticide use while ensuring environmental protection.

In Tunisia, several initiatives have been implemented to reduce the use of pesticides, including significant efforts to align national legislation with international and regional regulations. On November 15, 2010, a new regulatory text was promulgated featuring an updated approval process and introducing new regulatory requirements and measures for pesticide, resulting in a remarkable reduction in the number of approved active substances. Additionally, the financial contribution related to approval operations was halved for biological products (N O G, 03 June 2011).

Furthermore, Tunisia has signed and ratified most international conventions on the management of risks associated with these chemicals, including the Rotterdam Convention on the "Prior Informed Consent" procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides subject to international trade.

Other important measures have been taken to encourage the reduction and/or rationalization of pesticide use to promote sustainable agriculture through the adoption of IPM approach and other alternative pest control methods (biocontrol products such as pheromones, biological control, biotechnical means, resistant varieties, plant extracts, algae-based extracts, microorganism-based suspensions, etc.).

The use of antimicrobials in phytosanitary practices aims to control fungal and bacterial infections threatening crops. However, their intensive and sometimes inappropriate use promotes the development of microbial resistance. This resistance occurs when pathogens adapt to antimicrobial treatments, rendering them ineffective, which can lead to a significant agricultural loss. Moreover, antimicrobials applied to crops can end up in the environment, where they contribute to the selection of resistant microorganisms. This situation poses a risk to human and animal health, as these resistant organisms can spread and limit therapeutic options, particularly for humans. Therefore, the careful and responsible management of these products in agriculture is crucial to limit the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

A better understanding of the mode of action of these products, the crops where their use is increasing, the dangers they pose to the environment and human and animal health, and finally, how to prevent and limit them, is essential to ensure safe and compliant products.

Aims of the project :

The UNJP/TUN/047/UNJ project "Supporting the Implementation of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Tunisia by Adopting the 'One Health' Approach" supports the National Action Plan (NAP) developed in 2019 on AMR, focusing primarily on awareness, surveillance, and prevention of infections related to human health, animal and plant health, and food safety.

Objectives of the workshop :

The national Workshop on “Prevention of AMR and Integrated Pest Management and presentation of the Good Agricultural Practices” co organized by FAO and General Directorate of Plant Health and Control of Agricultural Inputs (DG/SVCIA) aimed to establish a harmonized and sustainable approach for managing AMR in crops in Tunisia. The workshop focused on enhancing the knowledge and skills of national stakeholders on the responsible use of fungicides and other antimicrobials while integrating the principles of IPM. By promoting proactive and informed risk management of antimicrobials, the event sought to facilitate the effective implementation of best practices within an IPM approach adapted to local specificities.

Target public and workshop outcomes :

The workshop brought together officials responsible for plant protection from various central and regional services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries, along with representatives from stakeholders’ institutions, over two intensive days.

During the two working days, the focus was on the main crops in Tunisia that use antimicrobials (Potato, Cereals and Grapes), addressing the associated risks of resistance, and exploring effective management strategies. Through group work sessions, participants discussed guidelines for best practices to mitigate AMR risks, ensuring these recommendations are practical and actionable for field application.

 

 

Report of Prof. Essia Limam,
DG.SVCIA-FAO, Tunis
Tunisia

Website : http://www.tjpp.tn