FABIans Prof. Brett Hurley, Prof. Irene Barnes and Dr Jackson Muyobela joined collaborators Dr Agena Anjulo (CIFOR) and Weldesenbet Beze and Kumela Regasa (Ethiopian Forestry Development, EFD), in southern and central Ethiopia to investigate insect pests and diseases affecting moringa and eucalypt trees in those regions. They were joined by Dr Wegayehu Fitawek, and agricultural economist from University of Pretoria who is conducting a socio-economic impact and value chain analysis of moringa through interviews and focus group discussions.

This was the first field visit for a five-year project ‘Management of forest pests and diseases of forest crops in Ethiopia’, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and involving the University of Sunshine Coast, CIFOR-ICRAF, EFD, ICFR and FABI.

African moringa, Moringa stenopetala, is an important food source in southern Ethiopia, and provides medicinal and other values, while eucalypts are used in much of the country for fencing, construction and other purposes. These trees are extremely important for the livelihood of many Ethiopians, but the successful farming of these trees is threatened by insect pests and diseases.

This was the first of several field trips over the next years, with the broad objective to identify the major pests and diseases affecting moringa, eucalypts and wattle, to develop management options, and to facilitate adoption of management strategies through awareness and training.