ebook img

Inside APHIS / United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service PDF

18 Pages·1993·1.7 MB·English
by  
Save to my drive
Quick download
Download
Most books are stored in the elastic cloud where traffic is expensive. For this reason, we have a limit on daily download.

Preview Inside APHIS / United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. ouSFOVO X- - £Z'7 . - s%f" 4C-t*r i yh ■ ■ ■* Vol. 13 No. 2 United States Department of Agriculture • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service MarehJfipril 1993 , Reverend Jesse Jackson Joins APHIS in Celebrating . African American History Month played a major role in virtually every movement over the past 3 years for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice; and has written two books. Terry Medley, APHIS’ Acting Associate Administrator welcomed USDA employees to the program and commended APHIS’ own efforts to develop a more diverse workforce. "APHIS is working on its own rainbow coalition through our efforts in diversity, our partnerships with the 1890 institutions, and our human resources efforts in terms of recruitment, development, and summer jobs,” said Medley. "We are in the process of establishing disabled employment issues coun¬ cils, Hispanic American issues councils, and African American issues councils. While we have a way to go to accrue the real benefits, APHIS champions these causes, and we hope that our efforts will APHIS PHOTO BY LAURIE SMITH help produce some of the scholars, Jesse Jackson mesmerized the audience gathered in the Jefferson Auditorium with his leaders, activists, and writers of message of equality among all races. tomorrow.” Stephanie Luster, a student at Children from Van Ness Elemen¬ istration, and the Agricultural the University of the District of tary School—USDA’s adopted Cooperative Service. Columbia, sang the program’s school—eagerly gathered in the According to program moderator musical selection and brought the front row of Jefferson Auditorium in Shelia Clemons, HRD’s Chief of audience to its feet with her rendi¬ USDA’s South Building, waiting, Performance, Conduct, and Labor tion of the inspirational “One along with the rest of the anxious Relations, the national theme of this Moment in Time.” crowd, to hear the mesmerizing year’s program was African Ameri¬ Following Luster, Kenneth C. voice of Reverend Jesse Jackson. can Scholars, Leaders, Activists, Clayton. USDA’s Acting Assistant Organized by APHIS’ Equal and Writers. Secretary for Marketing and Inspec¬ Opportunity and Civil Rights staff as Who has succeeded in all of these tion Services, made a brief but part of Black History Month, the professions better than Reverend gracious introduction for the man program was a much awaited event Jesse Jackson? A man who: has for whom little introduction is throughout all of USDA. Jackson’s received over 40 honorary degrees; needed. appearance was sponsored by is one of America’s foremost political Speaking from the heart with few APHIS and its partner agencies, the and social figures in the movement notes, Jackson addressed the Federal Grain Inspection Service, for justice and democracy both audience. “How do you develop an the Packers and Stockyards Admin¬ nationally and internationally; has (See JACKSON on page 10) Secretarial Focus Do You Qualify for Earned Income Overcoming Procrastination Credit? By Linda Story. Program Manager. Operation Jumpstart By Elaine Lawson. Work and Family Life Program At one time or another we've all you are procrastinating. Are you part of a working family found ourselves procrastinating: You may want to take the time to that had an income of less than intentionally putting off doing write down some of your observa¬ $22,370 in 1992 and at least one something that should be done for tions so that you can see your child living at home for more than inane tasks, such as counting the pitfalls in black and white. While half the year? If so, you may qualify ceiling tiles (twice usually), dusting writing, take note of any trends you for earned income credit (EIC). This those tiny spaces between your may have developed. Is the list tax credit is available to both computer keys, or figuring out your growing faster in one area than married and single parents regard¬ annual leave into the next century. another? Are you selective with less of whether you owe income tax. Reasons for procrastination may what you do get done and what you To apply for EIC you need to file a vary from individual to individual, should get done? Federal income tax return (Form but, more often than not, it’s choices In any job there are some tasks 1040A or 1040) and fill out “Sched¬ we’ve made or even our own behav¬ or assignments that are less enjoy¬ ior that keeps us from reaching our able than others, particularly large ule EIC,’’ and attach it to your tax return. goals. Oddly, fear of failure and of projects. Sometimes looking at If you don’t owe taxes, you can success are also big reasons for such projects as a whole can be a file for the EIC after April 15. Call procrastination. bit overwhelming and more than the Internal Revenue Sendee (IRS) Regardless of whether you your mind can handle. If that’s the toll free with any questions. The continually choose simpler assign¬ case, try breaking the project into ments over more difficult ones or smaller tasks that you can easily number is 1-800-829-1040. Tax forms can be obtained from the IRS. just refrain from returning phone accomplish. With practice, you will your local Post Office, and many calls, the end result is still the be able to work your way through a banks and libraries. same—work that doesn’t get done. project piece-by-piece instead of However, overcoming procrasti¬ being intimidated by the whole nation can be as simple as recogniz¬ picture. ing that you’re doing it. Take the So, the next time you are faced time to study your work habits so with an assignment you would like Inside APHIS you can analyze, among other to put off until tomorrow catch things, why you procrastinate, yourself before you start counting which assignments you tend to put those ceiling tiles yet again. Inside APHIS is published by: off the most, and how you act when Legislative and Public Affairs Room 606, Federal Building 6505 Belcrest Road Letters to the Editor Hyattsville. Md. 20782. Phone: FTS or (301) 436-7774 The opinions expressed in letters to the editor or articles do not necessarily reflect the views or In the January/February issue of According to Moss, PPQ officer policy of the agency. APHIS Inside APHIS, we reported the Kyra Petrin motivated her coworkers reserves the right to edit for generous Christmas spirit of APHIS at the port of San Diego to donate reasons of space and style. headquarters and Hyattsville non-perishable food items and toys personnel and their efforts to give for charity. She filled the trunk of Director: local Van Ness Elementary School her car with the boxes and bags of John P. Duncan ZZ7 students a Merry Christmas. collected items and delivered them PPQ officer Barbara A. Moss in to Chula Vista Cares. Thanks to Managing Editor San Diego, California, forwarded an Kyra's initiative and leadership, PPQ Rick McNaney account of APHIS Christmas spirit was able to provide Chula Vista from the field. Cares with much-appreciated Editor: donations. Beth Hulse —Editor Content Advisor Larry Mark Design Consultant: Betsy Nordin Photography Editor: Laurie Smith 2/Inside APHIS March/April 1993 WAC is Helping Develop APHIS Women of the Future By Anna Cherry. Public Information. LPA "We are headed in the right Funding New Programs be more competitive for higher-level direction," said acting APHIS It was announced at the January positions in the workplace,” says Administrator Lonnie King, while meeting that, for the first time, the Garbe. addressing the standing-room-only Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights crowd gathered in Hyattsville for the office has allocated some funds for Additional Goals January awards ceremony and WAC's budget. To increase its communication installation of new officers of APHIS’ 'This funding will open up more activities. WAC would like to pro¬ Women's Advisory Committee opportunities and allow us to duce a regular information memo (WAC). King also noted that the provide better programs for APHIS listing past and future events as future holds many challenges, and employees and fund women’s well as available training. “We also WAC could help its members leadership development training,” want to create a library of news develop the skills necessary for says Garbe. updates and videotapes of the survival in an ever-changing One of the new programs will be meetings and programs," adds environment. a series of quarterly WAC weeks, the Garbe. “We want to be a depository first of which is tentatively sched¬ and disseminator of information for Accepting the Challenge uled in April. Each week will women in APHIS.” JoAnne Garbe (REAC), the newly - consist of 3 days of programs, “WAC gives a lot to APHIS, and it elected 1993 WAC chair, appreci¬ including speakers, films, and is a place where women find positive ated King’s speech and the chal¬ workshops. reinforcement. I am very enthusias¬ lenges he presented. “WAC em¬ The first WAC week will deal with tic about what the future holds, she braces and accepts these chal¬ "Woman in the Era of Change" and finishes." For more information on lenges," says Garbe. 'There is a lot will include workshops on SF-171 WAC or upcoming activities, contact that needs to be done, and there is preparation and interviewing JoAnne Garbe at (301) 436-7833. plenty to go around. I would like to techniques. “Its goal will be to teach see women become empowered, but women how to market themselves to I recognize that this is not going to happen in a year. It is a gradual process of helping women grow and develop self-confidence, and I believe WAC can enhance both of these things." According to Garbe, WAC's goals are: to provide a forum for the exchange of information on issues of concern to APHIS women: to enhance the professionalism of women in APHIS; to develop strate¬ gies by which women can improve and enhance their contributions to APHIS’ mission, goals, and objec¬ tives: to improve the status of women in APHIS and the Federal Government; to increase APHIS’ responsiveness to the needs of women; and to propose policies concerning APHIS women. Garbe, whose background is in law and veterinary medicine, has APHIS PHOTO BY LAURIE SMITH been involved in WAC since its beginning in 1991. The installation of the new Women's Advisory Committee officers took place on January “I am very enthusiastic about 7, 1993, in Hyattsville. Elaine Gilbert, the committee's publicity chair, addresses the audience and the officers sitting to her left. The officers are: Chair JoAnne Garbe what the committee is doing,” she (REAC), Vice Chair Karen Day (M&B), Treasurer Doris McLaughlin (M&B), Recording says. “I consider myself a feminist Secretary Violet Harris ( PPQ), and Corresponding Secretary Deborah Overton ( BBEP). promoting women in the workplace and helping women to achieve their potential.” According to membership chair Doris Palusky, WAC's membership is booming, with more than 140 APHIS members, several of whom are men. March/April 1993 Inside APHIS/3 1 MM “PPQ is More Committed Than Ever,” says Glen Lee. By Eric Berthelette, Executive Correspondence. LPA When most PPQ employees leave several other countries. ports of entry,” he says. "With this work, they would probably prefer to PPQ has been caught in the trend, we may also see a higher stop thinking about their jobs. But, middle trying to develop workable incidence of costly pest and disease as PPQ Deputy Administrator entry requirements to allow the outbreaks.” B. Glen Lee points out, when you importation of the much-needed Although more personnel may look around, there are reminders of logs, while ensuring foreign pests eventually be needed to detect exotic the benefits of PPQ’s programs are not introduced into this country plant pests or diseases at the ports, almost everywhere. From the fields in the process. To address this the number of students graduating to the marketplace, the influence of problem, PPQ conducted extensive in related fields, such as entomol¬ PPQ's programs is apparent. pest risk assessments in several ogy, plant pathology, and horticul¬ Thanks to their efforts, U.S. agricul¬ countries and has proposed work¬ ture, seems to be on the decline. As tural products are some of the most able entry requirements that should a result, Lee is trying to incorporate affordable and highest quality go into effect this year. a more flexible hiring approach. products in the world. “Sometimes "Many schools have developed more I think we can lose sight of the integrated curricula, and we might importance of what we do,” says “With this trend, we may pass up some desirable candidates Lee. “Without PPQ, and certainly also see a higher inci¬ unless we consider a wider range of without APHIS, our agricultural related course work in our evalua¬ production system in this country dence of costly pest and tions," he says. ‘The added benefit would be in serious trouble.” disease outbreaks. ” of an expanded search is broaden¬ ing the base of diverse candidates Facing Challenges and increasing our workforce At Home and Abroad diversity.” The formation of the European This past year alone PPQ has Community (EC) has also affected had to face one challenge after Emphasis on Employees PPQ. In the past, PPQ has negoti¬ another: implementing an eradica¬ In spite of all the challenges ated entry requirements for U.S. tion program in Washington and facing PPQ, Lee asserts that spirits products with each individual Oregon for the Asian gypsy moth: are high in the program and European country, creating a 1 combatting introductions of Medi¬ believes this morale is part of a collection of agreements that vary terranean, Oriental, and Mexican larger attitude flourishing in APHIS. greatly in their restrictions. With fruit flies in California; participating the dissolution of internal bound¬ in an interagency technical working aries in the EC, PPQ is faced with group to coordinate research, edu¬ negotiating entry requirements that “Our people are dedi¬ cation, and regulatory activities to address the countries' pest concerns address problems presented by cated to what they do, but do not unduly affect U.S. Africanized honey bees: and negoti¬ agricultural exports. and Ifind that very en¬ ating cooperative intrastate quaran¬ “Problems arise,” says Lee, “when tines for the pine shoot beetle in the couraging. ” U.S. products that are accepted in Great Lakes region. one European country are trans¬ ported into a country that restricts that product’s importation. We need There is an outstanding level of “Without PPQ, and to help establish safeguards that commitment in PPQ." says Lee. “We certainly without APHIS, address these kinds of plant health have highly qualified and dedicated concerns.” people, and, with the extensive our agricultural produc¬ support we have recently received tion system in this coun¬ Wanted: More Personnel from the Administrator's Office, I believe morale has increased try would be in serious Exotic pests do not find their way tremendously among PPQ and other into this country very easily. In trouble. ” 1991. the agricultural quarantine APHIS employees. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find someone inspection (AQI) staff cleared almost slacking off at APHIS. Our people 357.000 planes for entry into the Changes occurring around the are dedicated to what they do, and I United States. Officers intercepted world are also placing new demands find that very encouraging." about 1.8 million prohibited items on PPQ and are putting the To increase employee involve¬ and identified more than 56,000 program’s expertise, fresh attitude, ment in the program. PPQ has pests and diseases that could pose a and new strategies to the test. The established regional employee threat to U.S. agriculture. recent developments in Russia utilization committees made up of Unfortunately, Lee does not see combined with the difficult time the employee representatives. Employ¬ the AQI workload dropping off any timber industry is experiencing in ees can submit to the committee time soon. “We are facing a trend of obtaining affordable logs in the representatives their suggestions on increased international traffic of United States has piqued interest in how to make PPQ more effective. In both cargo and passengers, which importing logs into this country using these committees, PPQ may lead to staffing problems at from the Russian Far East and from ensures their policy decisions 4/Inside APHIS March/April 1993 Wssmmm benefit from the input and practical experience of employees. Other steps Lee has taken to promote employee advancement include increasing PPQ employees' access to leadership training by changing the step prerequisite from GS-12 to GS-11 and requiring regional offices to set aside a percentage of their budgets for employee training and recognition awards. Exploring a Management Alternative Lee also hopes to identify new management styles that will make better use of employee expertise. "Right now, most of our activities are managed under a traditional structure, much like the military, with progressive levels of com¬ mand,” states Lee. “However, many of our functions may lend them¬ selves to alternative management structures that more evenly distrib¬ ute responsibility.” “Our highest priority is an investment in people. Everyone benefits from employees reaching their potential and contributing to the organization. ” PPQ’s AQI staff at Miami Interna¬ tional Airport in Florida is already experimenting with one such management alternative. They are participating in a pilot study that is looking at the viability of utilizing self-directed work teams to delegate responsibilities, rotate assignments, and manage staff affairs using group input and consensus. APHIS PHOTO BY LAURIE SMITH Under this system, supervisors A native of Hollister, North Carolina, B. Glen Lee began Government service with no longer directly manage work USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in 1962 after earning a bachelor of science degree activities but act as mentors that in agriculture technology at North Carolina State University. A charter member of APHIS, Lee has been with the agency since its beginnings in the team can consult for technical 1972 and has held such positions as PPQ staff agriculturalist and PPQ assistant director assistance or advice. According to for national survey and emergency response activities. Lee, “self-directed teams provide In 1987, Lee became regional director of PPQ’s Western Region, overseeing program both supervisory and non-supervi- activities in 14 States and 2 territories. He was selected to head the program in 1990. sory personnel with the opportunity For his outstanding contributions in protecting U.S. agriculture, Lee was presented the to significantly contribute to accom¬ Rank of Distinguished Executive Award by President Bush in January 1992. plishing PPQ's mission." “Our highest priority is an investment in people," finishes Lee. reaching their potential and contrib¬ case, not only does PPQ benefit but “Everyone benefits from employees uting to the organization.” In this all U.S. consumers as well. March/April 1993 Inside APHIS/5 Protecting Plants From Plunderers and Profiteers By Sharon Scheidhauer. Executive Correspondence, LPA Tucked away in a small office in Such discussions are common for species’ origin and granting permis¬ the hectic PPQ headquarters in Thompson. Since 1978, he has had sion to export them. Plants and Hyattsville, Maryland, Don Thomp¬ the main responsibility in APHIS for plant products entering this country son, a port operations officer, sits administering CITES. This interna¬ are required to go through one of quietly with a telephone receiver to tional treaty, which was established APHIS’ 16 plant inspection stations. his ear. Numerous botany text¬ in 1973, restricts trade in threatened At the stations, PPQ inspectors books, plant encyclopedias, garden and endangered wildlife and plants. ensure that all CITES-protected ing guides, and a stunning amaryllis plants are accompanied by the surround him. He is explaining to The Nuts and Bolts of CITES proper documentation, the docu¬ an exporter the requirements to ship As the management authority for ments are valid, and the plants a rare orchid overseas. He informs CITES, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife listed on the document are in fact the exporter that, because the orchid Service is responsible for adminis¬ the plants being shipped. is listed under the Convention on tering this treaty with regard to "Sometimes a shipment's docu¬ the International Trade in Endan¬ wildlife species exported from the ments are missing, do not match gered Species of Wild Fauna and United States. However, because of the species, or have been forged or Flora (CITES), it cannot be collected the numerous PPQ officers APHIS altered." says Thompson. “If that's from the wild, and he must apply for has stationed at ports-of-entry the case and a shipment is in an export permit. across the country, the agency has violation of CITES, we will contact been delegated the authority to officials in the country of origin to administer CITES with regard to the ask whether they want the plants importation and exportation of returned. Most countries decline," plants. Like the administration of he says, "and APHIS initiates a the treaty, the responsibility for forfeiture procedure whereby, after issuing CITES permits and the 21 days, the agency takes owner¬ enforcement of CITES is also shared ship of the plants and donates them by the two agencies. to one of over 50 rescue centers or The species covered by CITES fall public institutions throughout the into three categories: the most country that exhibit and propagate threatened species, which can be plants." collected from the wild only with Currently. 117 countries have special permission and, for the most signed CITES, but, regardless of part, are collected only for scientific whether a country' has signed the research purposes: species that are treaty or not, it is still responsible traded commercially in large for providing proper documentation volumes and that can be artificially with shipments of CITES-protected propagated or collected from the plants or animals. wild as long at their populations are ’The vast number of plant monitored: and populations that are species listed under CITES— threatened within a country. currently over 20,000—makes According to Thompson, the last enforcement of the treaty difficult,” category serves as an internal acknowledges Thompson, who has mechanism for countries to control tried to make it easier for PPQ field trade in a species they are con¬ officers to identify such plants by cerned about. It is not used often holding training workshops and because some countries have preparing inspection manuals. domestic laws, such as our Endan¬ Thompson has also worked in gered Species Act, for this purpose, conjunction with his peers in other and other countries prefer to use countries to develop identification the first or second CITES categories guides to aid in the worldwide APHIS PHOTO BY LAURIE SMITH to protect their plants. enforcement of CITES. He has even PPQ's Don Thompson has the main travelled to China, at that Govern¬ responsibility in APHIS for administering Laying Down the Law ment's request and expense, to ad¬ CITES in regard to the importation and All plant and wildlife species vise on effective CITES enforcement. exportation of plants into the United entering this countiy that are “APHIS tries to have a balanced States. covered by CITES must be accom¬ and reasonable approach to en¬ panied by documentation from the forcement." emphasizes Thompson. exporting countiy verifying the 6/Inside APHIS March/April 1993 “We work hard to facilitate the legitimate movement of plants that are artificially propagated, which, in turn, helps eliminate the demand for wild-grown. CITES-protected plants.” What it Takes to Get on the CITES List Although world populations of plant and animal species are constantly changing, new endan¬ gered or threatened species can be added to or removed from CITES by following certain procedures. To do either of these, a signatory country submits a proposal to the main administrative body of CITES— the Secretariat, which is located in Switzerland. The Secretariat distributes copies of the proposal to all signatory countries prior to biennial CITES meetings. Extensive technical discussions are held on the proposal during the 2-week meeting. At the end of the meeting, a vote is APHIS PHOTO BY LAURIE SMITH taken—each country has one vote. When flowers or plants covered under CITES are imported into this country, PPQ Thompson represents APHIS on inspectors must ensure the shipment is accompanied by the proper CITES the U.S. delegation at the biennial documentation and that the documents match the contents of the shipment. meetings, the last of which was in March 1992 in Kyoto, Japan. After groups dominating the talks. But we discover that only five plants of a the biennial meetings, each country now, people are thinking more about species exist in the world, and, in pursues changes in CITES listings the total ecosystem,” explains the 3 months after their disoveiy, all through its own legal system. In the Thompson. “At the Kyoto meeting five are for sale and have been United States, such changes must last year, there was more discussion removed from the wild. It may not be published in the Federal Register. on plants than in the whole history be perfect, but CITES is the only Knowing when to add or remove a of the treaty. Plants are now international mechanism available to plant species can be difficult, receiving a tremendous amount of protect these species.” considering the effect such a deci¬ attention, especially where the Thompson adds that, in our sion can have on international trade. listing of an eeo-nomically important modem world, there are reasons Information on the status of world¬ plant species, such as the tropical other than beauty for preserving wide species populations comes from hardwoods, is concerned." plant species. “In using biotechnol¬ various sources, including conserva¬ Thompson believes that, during ogy, the genetic diversity that each tion groups, botanical groups, the 1980's, another change oc¬ species provides is of paramount universities, and even Government curred. “Because of the increased importance,” he says. “A part of the officials. The United Nations' world¬ attention environmental issues gene pool is lost forever when a monitoring unit also helps tracks the received at that time, there was a species dies. It is irreplaceable.” So populations of certain species. switch in mentality,” he says. “In CITES, in its 20th year, will continue my judgment, there was a worldwide to do what it does best—protect our A Change in Mentality consensus that people must start unique plant kingdom. Through his long experience with paying attention to environmental CITES, Thompson has seen a issues and doing whatever we can to change in the way in which it is alter our destiny in regard to the viewed. “During the development of environment. This generated more the treaty 20 years ago, the plant support for CITES than ever.” side was a mere stepchild to the "However," continues Thompson, animals, with the animal interest “CITES still has its critics. It reg¬ ulates the way people trade, and many are resistant to this oversight. But something has to be done when March/April 1993 Inside APHIS/ 7 The Doctor is In By Jamie Ambrosi, Executive Correspondence, LPA As children, we often think about what we will become when we grow up—a firefighter, a scientist, an astronaut, a ballet dancer, or even a lion tamer in the circus. According to Anwar Rizvi, a PPQ officer cur¬ rently assigned to Baltimore’s Locust Point piers, his childhood career dreams were right on target. It was as a young boy in Sheikhupura, Pakistan, that Rizvi developed a commitment to plant health that would take him from the mountains of Peru to the marshes of Indonesia. “I can remember shopping in the marketplace in my town when I was very young,” he says, smiling. “I would examine the fruits and vegetables so carefully that the merchants would joke with me APHIS PHOTO BY LAURIE SMITH saying, ‘here comes the doctor,' as PPQ officer Anwar Rizvi examines a bush for euonymus scale. I approached them.” Rizvi’s concern for the health of fruits and vegetables eventually led this project, we were to improve the which he still does today. him from the town’s marketplace to quality of Indonesia’s staple crops, Over the years, Rizvi's work with the Agricultural University at such as rice, soybean, peanut and FAO has allowed him to travel Lyallpur, Pakistan, where he com," says Rizvi. around the globe to such places as studied plant pathology and plant He assisted the plant pathology Tonga, Argentina, South Korea, breeding and genetics and taught department of the Maros Research Uruguay, and Honduras conducting plant protection for almost 5 years. Institute for Food Crops (MORIF). training programs and teaching He later immigrated to the United “Because MORIF had no serological Government officials the basics of States and earned his Ph.D. from testing facilities or procedures to plant protection. “I enjoy working Rutgers University in plant detect and identify plant diseases," on these projects," says Rizvi. “I can pathology. he says, “we had to help them travel for a couple of months to oth¬ “I was very interested in using my develop a diagnostic and clinical er countries but still return home academic knowledge to research laboratory and build a new research when the projects are complete." plant viruses and diseases that lab. Their national junior research¬ affected people in the world," he ers also had to be taught how to A Good First Impression says. “I have always believed that gather information from the field It was on a mission to the science should be used to improve and examine it in the lab. I can still Dominican Republic in 1989 that people's lives.” remember watching their Govern¬ Rizvi observed APHIS in action for ment officials trying to grasp the the first time. “I was there on an Taking his Message basics of plant protection," he says, AID-funded project to strengthen Around the World sighing. the Dominican Government’s plant health services and improve APHIS' After graduating in 1978, Rizvi The Weary Traveler international preclearance program was hired as a plant pathologist/ Finally Returns Home for fruits and vegetables being breeder by the International Potato Center in Lima, Peru, and sent on After traveling around the world shipped to the United States," he assignment there. ‘The project," he on assignments for 8-1 /2 years, says. “Although I had no previous says, “was to breed potato plants Rizvi decided he was ready to come experience with APHIS. I was very that were resistant to potato virus Y back to the United States as a impressed with their inspection and (PVY) and potato leafroll virus visiting scientist at the University of testing procedures.” (PLRV], so healthy potatoes could be Minnesota. He later moved to Rizvi was also impressed with grown throughout the world.” Maryland on a similar assignment APHIS' ability to prevent the spread After 4-1 /2 years of intensive with the Agricultural Research of plant diseases by way of regula¬ research, Rizvi's team was success¬ Service’s (ARS) Florist and Nursery tory enforcement. “I had spent my ful in developing several potato Crop Lab in Beltsville. While with life diagnosing and curing plant clones resistant to PVY and PLRV. ARS, Rizvi continued to accept diseases," says Rizvi, “and then Rizvi's next assignment took him short-term assignments for AID and I saw a way to prevent those dis¬ to Indonesia on a project that was also began working as a consultant eases from occurring in the first sponsored by the Agency for Inter¬ for the United Nation’s Food and place. I knew then that I wanted to national Development (AID). “On Agriculture Organization (FAO), become involved with regulating and 8/Inside APHIS March /April 1993

See more

The list of books you might like

Most books are stored in the elastic cloud where traffic is expensive. For this reason, we have a limit on daily download.