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

18 Pages·1993·1.7 MB·English

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

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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 [phone]
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 [phone].
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