Conclusions
This delimiting survey has established that GAS is spreading fast within
the Mwea Rice Scheme sections. The National Government through its
relevant agencies (particularly NIA, KEPHIS and the Plant Protection
Services Division (PPSD) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
Development), should bring together stakeholders in the rice value chain
to immediately create awareness and institute the control measures
proposed in this paper. This will also ensure that GAS does not spread
to other risk areas already identified in the rice-growing and indeed
other regions in the country and region. Rice is a crop grown in large
schemes in Kenya. This provides an ideal opportunity to institute
areawide GAS control measures, particularly community-based snail
management through synchronised farming activities including integrated
pest management strategies. Out growers should also be actively involved
in this process. National and International Research organisations
should be encouraged to come up with appropriate long-term control
measures that are sustainable and safe for the environment, particularly
the use of biological control methods e.g. snail parasitic
microorganisms in an IPM package. The establishment of pest-free areas
(PFAs) especially in Western Kenya and Tana River basin and other
regions where infestation has not been reported, is an important step
towards effective management of GAS. The development of a policy brief
for consideration by the National Government would kick-start this
process.