Plant health should be everyone’s concern

THE UN General Assembly has adopted the resolution proclaiming May 12 the International Day of Plant Health.

The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development views this as a positive step towards the issue of global hunger as plant pests and diseases cause massive crop losses and leave millions without access to sufficient food supplies.

The day is a legacy of the International Year of Plant Health, which was marked in 2020-21. This will allow all relevant stakeholders to continue with the efforts to increase public awareness of the importance of plant health. South Africa joins countries in the world to celebrate plant health as part of recognising the importance of plants to human health, animal health, environmental protection and biodiversity, and socio-economic, agricultural and rural development.

To put matters into perspective, both our health and that of our planet depend largely on plants. Plants make up 80% of the food we eat and 98% of the oxygen we breathe and yet they remain under threat. Almost 40% of food crops are lost due to plant pests and diseases every year. This affects both agricultural production and food security.

Stakeholders and other interested bodies are encouraged to organise International Day of Plant Health events, shows, exhibitions, roadshows, farmers’ forums, tree-planting ceremonies, and to host public lectures.