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.