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World Bank /
Conseil Ouest Africain et du Centre pour la Recherche et le Développement / West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD)

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West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme

(PPAAO/WAAPP 1-C)

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(THE GAMBIA)

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Pests and Pesticides Management Plan (PPMP)

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January2010

Team of Experts:

  • Ebrima SECKA, Expert in Pests and Pesticides Management - The Gambia
  • Mbaye Mbengue FAYE, Expert in Environmental and Social Assessment

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1.Country Setting

1.2.Context of the study

1.2. Objective of the PPMP

2. PRESENTATION OF WAAPP 1C

2.1.Objectives of WAAPP 1C

2.2.General components of WAAPP 1C

3. LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES

3.1. Legislative and Regulatory Framework Of Pesticide Management

3.1.1. International Conventions on the Environment

3.1.2. Policies, Legal and Regulatory Texts on Environmental Protection and Management

3.2Institutional framework for pesticide management

3.2.1. Institutional Framework

3.2.4. Pesticide Control and Management (Registration and Post Registration Activities)

3.2.5. Constraints on Pesticide Management and Control

3.2.6. Recommendations

4. PEST AND PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT APPROACHES IN AGRICULTURE AND PUBLIC HEALTH

4.1.Pests found in agriculture and public health

4.1.1 Overview of Crops Cultivated and Their Major Pest Problems

4.1.2. Pest Management Approaches in Agriculture

4.1.2. Pests in Public Health

4.1.4. Constraints of the Malaria Control Program

4.1.5. Recommendations

4.2.Integrated Pest Management experiences

5.PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT METHODS AND USAGE

5.1.Pesticide Use in the Gambia

5.1.1. Pesticides Used in Agriculture

5.1.2. Pesticides Used in Public Health

5.1.3. Pesticide Use Pattern

5.1.4. Types and Quantities of Pesticides to be financed by the Project

5.2.Pesticide Management Methods

5.3.Negative impacts of uncontrolled use of pesticides

5.3.1. The Population at Risk

5.3.2. Adverse effects on the environment.

5.3.3. Impact on health and causes

5.3.4. Pesticides-related accidents

5.3.5. Summary of impacts and risks of pesticides management methods

5.4.Assessment of knowledge and practices in pesticide management

6. ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EXISTING PPMP

6.1Assessment of the implementation of existing plans/programmes

6.2Conclusion and recommendations

7.ACTION PLAN FOR PEST AND PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT

7.1.At the SE/CORAF/WECARD level

7.2.Priority issues identified at the country level

7.3.Strategic actions and measures under the WAAPP 1C

7.4.Strategy of intervention and pesticide management action plan

7.2.1. Strategic guidelines of the PPMP

7.2.2. Technical guidelines of the PPMP

7.5.Monitoring and Evaluation Plan

7.4.1. Activities to be monitored

7.4.2. Monitoring indicators

7.4.3. Evaluation

7.6.Training of actors involved in Pest and Pesticide Management

7.7.Awareness Campaigns on Pesticide Management.

7.8.Coordination and monitoring of the PPMP

7.9.Institutional arrangements for the implementation and monitoring of the PPMP

7.10.Cost of activities proposed in the PPMP

ANNEX

Annex 1:List of Pesticides and Other Chemicals Banned or Severely Restricted in the Gambia

Annex 2: List of Pesticides Registered with the Sahelian Pesticides Committee from June 1994 to June 2001.

Annex 3:Good Management Practices Guide and Pesticides Management Measures

Annex 4:Basic principles of integrated control

Annex 5 : Bibliography

Annex 6:Persons Meet during this Mission

ABBREVIATIONS

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization

HCPCMAHazardous Chemicals and Pesticides Control and Management Act

IPMIntegrated Pest Management

IDA International Development Association / Association Internationale pour le Développement

ITNsInsecticide-treated beg nets

IVM Integrated vector management

NARI National Agricultural Research Institute

NARS National agricultural research systems of participating countries

NEANational Environment Agency

NCS National Centres of Specialisation

NGO / ONGNon Governmental Organization

PPS Plant Protection Service

RDA Regional Directors of Agriculture

SIDA / AIDSAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Syndrome d’immunodéficience acquise

SPCSahelian Pesticide Committee

UEMOAWest African Economic and Monetary Union / Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine

VIH / HIVHuman Immunodeficiency Virus / Virus d’Immunodéficience Humaine

WAAPP West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme

WECARDWest and Central African Council for Research and Development

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The World Bank has an objective of contributing toward agricultural productivity and competitiveness through four (4) components: Regional cooperation in technology generation and dissemination; Centres of Excellence; Technology generation; Coordination, Management, Monitoring and Evaluation. The present study of WAAPP IC covers the following countries: Benin, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone and Togo.

WAAPP will finance agricultural research and technology dissemination whose implementation can impact the environment negatively. In fact, the results of agricultural research will bring benefits to the local populations and, if adequate measures are not taken beforehand, they could also, in certain cases generate negative effects at the environmental and social levels. The activities of WAAPP 1C can lead to the use of phytosanitary and anti-vector control products. The challenge will therefore be to combine the development of agricultural research and extension activities and the requirements of protection as well as environmental and social management.

The Pest Management Plan (PMP) addresses The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP1-C) concerns relative to the risks associated with increases in pests and diseases populations and pesticide use on the research and extension phases, during project implementation and the need to comply with the World Bank Safeguard Policies on Pest Management (OP 4.09 and BP4.01 Annex C) and the newly approved Special Program for Food Security (SPFS) to be implemented in 2010, by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the FAO.

The PPMP will enable actors and stakeholders to monitor and mitigate negative environmental and social economic impacts of the project arising from the use of agro-chemicals, by promoting and implementing Integrated Production and Pest Management (IPPM) through the Farmer Field School approach, to enable actors and stakeholders of these projects to comply with the World Bank Safeguard Policies on Pest Management which is in line with the current IPM Policy approved for implementation on all crops by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The PMP will strengthen the growers and stakeholders involved in this project to identify and manage their own pest problems and agro-ecosystems in the development of agriculture, prevent and reduce personal and environmental health risks associated with pesticide use and protect beneficial organisms and the environment, and in the process increase crop production to enhance Food Security and reduce poverty in the farming community.

The PPMP also addresses the internal and external environmental factors affecting the production of cereals and vegetable crops, for domestic production and export with a view to improve the livelihoods of growers to benefit from international trade by complying with the Phytosanitary export requirements. For example, production of quality and pesticide free crops for domestic consumption and export, quarantine pests, alien invasive species and stringent EU pesticide residue limits. Towards this end the PPMP will strengthen the Plant Protection Service to build the capacity of growers on IPPM and procure additional laboratory materials to enable the Pesticide Residue Laboratory carryout tests and determine Pesticide Residue Levels acceptable for export of Horticultural crops.

Collaborative linkages between this project and the newly approved Gambia Growth and Competitive Project (GGCP), and the FAO through the Special Program for Food Security will be establish to bring relevant expertise needed to further strengthen IPPM in The Gambia.

Furthermore the current IPM Policy approved by the Ministry of Agriculture is a step forward to ensuring compliance to the World Bank Safeguard Policies on Pest Management relative to judicious pesticide use with respect to protecting human health and the Environment. The existing national, regional and international Conventions signed and ratified by The Gambia Government on pesticide use and management, will compliment compliance. All these instruments requires a change of attitude and behavior by growers to shift to IPPM as the new sustainable alternative for a change.

Recommended Actions

The recommended actions elaborated below will strengthen national institutional capacity to implement the IPM Policy of the Ministry of Agriculture and build capacity of growers, extension agents and all stakeholders, on IPM, IVM and Pesticide Management, during the implementation of WAAPP1-C.

  • Organize a national workshop for sharing and dissemination of the PPMP with national actors and stakeholders.
  • Train 60 IPM and IVM Trainers to Train over 400 FFSs and benefiting more than 20,000 growers with equal gender ratio on IPM and IVM, covering all NARI Research and Extension intervention sites and beyond, for the duration of the Program.
  • Harmonization of the Pesticide Legislation of The Gambia with that of ECOWAS is required.
  • Building capacity of actors and stakeholders in pesticides management, and village-based facilitators, using the FFS approach.
  • Provide essential support to Analysis Laboratories (NEA,PPS,NARI and Water Quality) to enhance the implementation of WAAPP1-C activities,
  • Provide essential support to the National Malaria Control Program, to reduce the incidence of Malaria in The Gambia. The WAAPP1-C will complement the efforts of the GOTG towards this end, by supporting monitoring of pest and diseases of agricultural and public health importance, and other preventive approach measures.
  • Strengthened the Multi-Sectoral Monitoring, and Steering Committee to ensure the effective and timely implementation of a their activities is a priority.
  • Procure pesticides and inputs for NARI, to implement research and extension activities.
  • Establish a network of Pesticides Management Database for NEA,PPS, NMCP and NARI, to enhance access to information and sharing for effective management of pesticides.
  • Develop Integrated Pest and Pesticides Management (IPPM) Database for Extension Information System to benefit Producers and Extension Agents.
  • Support national sensitization and awareness campaigns on pesticides management and its related aspects, to change attitude and behaviour of users and the general public.
  • Strengthening national actors (NARI, PPS, NMCP and NEA) with vehicles to implement activities effectively, under WAAP1-C.
  • Procure Personal Protective Equipment and Cholinesterase Test Kits, is a priority to protect users.
  • Strengthened institutional human resource capacity in Pest and Pesticide Management for sustainability after the WAAPP1-C Program, by training some Agricultural staffs to Bachelor Degree and Masters Degree Levels on IPM and Agriculture..
  • Hire National Consultants with Pest and Pesticides Management background to conduct mid-term evaluation of the PPMP.

Budget

A Proposed Budget 250000 USD will be required to effectively implement the WAAPP1-C PPMP activities over a Five Year period. The detail budget is shown in Table 11 – Cost of Activities, for your consideration and approval.

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1.INTRODUCTION

1.1. Country Setting

Geographic Location

The Gambia is located 150 longitude at equal distance from the Equator and Tropic of Cancer. It has an area of 11,300 Km2 and its bounded by Senegal to the North, South and East and by the Atlantic Ocean to the West. The country is widest at its westerly end towards the Ocean about 48 Km across the narrows to about half this width at its eastern tip, 480 km inland. The country is bisected by the River Gambia forming the north and south banks, with the former being less developed than the latter. Banjul, the administrative centre and capital, is situated on an island at the estuary.

Demography

The population of The Gambia is 1.3 million with a population growth rate of 2.77 (Census, 2003). The percentage of population in the rural areas is 62.88 while that in the urban area is 37.12. The life expectancy for males is 56 years while that for females is 59 years. The infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) is 84 while maternal mortality rate (per 100,000 live births) is 730.

The Economy

The real growth for GDP (2005) is 2.8%. Annual growth rate is projected at 5% while the GDP distribution per main activity is: Agriculture 30%; Tourism 3.8%; Telecommunication 7.3%; Trade and Industry not available. The GDP per capita is US$310 while the national poverty rate is 71%.

Human Development

The primary education completion rate (% age group) is 80%, the illiteracy rate (% age 15 and above) 64.5%, male illiteracy rate (% age 15 and above) 55.5%, while that of females (% age 15 and above) is 73.1% . Unemployment rate (% of total) is 26% and youth (ages 15-24) unemployment not available. The number in women in rural development is (total number) is 42,178.

Political and Administrative Structures

The Gambia is divided into seven regions: Two municipalities- Banjul City Council and Kanifing Municipal Council and five provincial administration regions- Western Region, North Bank Region, Lower River Region, Central River Region and Upper River Region. Politically, the revenant units are local government areas (urban), districts, wards and villages. The country has 40 districts and about 1,840 villages with an average of 13 compounds. The government has implemented a decentralization policy aimed at devolving responsibility for administration to the regional, district and ward levels, since 1990.

Overview of the Agriculture Sector (Crop and Livestock Sub-Sectors)

The agriculture sector has a significant role in the socioeconomic development of the country as a food and feed provider, employer, income and foreign exchange earner. For instance, the sector produces about 50% of the national food supplies, generates approximately 40% foreign exchange earnings and provides two-thirds of total household income. Productivity in the agricultural sector is vital to enhance food security, economic growth and improved livelihoods.

Crop Production Systems

The crop production systems of The Gambia is characterized by: (i) subsistence production of cereals (mostly rice, millet and sorghum), (ii) semi-intensive production of cash crops (mostly groundnuts), and (iii) traditional livestock keeping. While non-rice cereals (e.g., millet, sorghum,), groundnut, horticultural crops and livestock enterprises are emphasized in the upland agro-ecosystems, the lowland agro-ecosystem is predominantly rice-based. Generally, upland crop production tends to be a separate enterprise from lowland rice production which is managed mostly by women.

The agricultural production systems in The Gambia follow the three types of agro-ecological zones existent in the country: (i) The Sudano-Sahelian Zone or Riverine Zone is 492,999 Ha, of which 372,377 Ha is cultivable land. More than 60% of production units country-wide live in this zone; (ii) The Sahel-Savanna Zone or Semi-Arid Zone has relatively low rainfall (< 800 mm). Only about 12% of production units are situated in this zone and (iii) The Guinea-Savannah Zone or Humid. It has high and moderately reliable rainfall (1000mm and above). This zone is 179,790 Ha, of which 66% is cultivable.

Crop Yields, Problems and Area Cultivated 2008

In the Gambia, average paddy yield under typical smallholder farmer management was estimated at 1.4 tons per hectare. For maize, sorghum, and millet, the estimates of farm level yields are 1.5 ton/ha, 750 kg/ha, and 900 kg/ha, respectively. These low and declining yields have been attributed to low use of improved technology, pest and diseases, declining fertility of soils, and climate variability. The main agricultural sub-sectors comprise livestock, horticulture and annual field crops. About 90% of agricultural production is carried out by some 759,000 smallholder resource poor farmers with limited access to productivity enhancing technologies.

In 2008, the area under cultivation was 321,000 ha or representing about 60 percent of total arable land estimated at 558,000 ha. Of the total cultivated area covering 321, 000 ha, about 231, 558 ha or 72 percent is devoted to the production of coarse grain cereals, 137, 079 for groundnuts for cash income, and about 73,000 ha for rice of which, 59,000 ha was cultivated under rain fed conditions, predominately upland NERICA rice.

Livestock Production

Livestock production, particularly small ruminants and poultry, is carried out nationwide by almost all rural households. The livestock density (exceeding 29 units/ha) is one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Cattle totaling about 300,000 heads are the most valuable asset in the sub–sector, closely followed by small ruminants comprising sheep (160,000) and goats (230,000). Poultry meat is an important source of quality animal protein, especially because of the short production period involved. It is estimated that small–scale producers raise some 700,000 birds, representing 90 percent of the national poultry flock. The demand for poultry feed has also increased significantly and maize production should be increase for the poultry industry and reduced the importation of poultry feed.

Agricultural Research and Extension Services

National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI)

The National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of The Gambia has undergone many changes over the past fifteen years. The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) was established by an act of Parliament in 1993, with the mandate to address the constraints that have impeded improved performance of the Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) sector. In pursuance of this goal, NARI defined the four main objectives, namely:

a)to achieve greater food security through intensification and diversification of crop, livestock and fish production,

b)increase incomes in rural areas,

c)to enhance the contribution of agriculture to the country’s balance of payments through encouragement of export diversification and facilitation of value added activities after production, and

d)to consolidate the natural resource base of agriculture and agricultural quality assurance.

The major achievements recorded by NARI since its establishment in 1993, are as follows:

  • develop a 5 year Medium Term Research Plan with a 20 years Master Plan for Agricultural Research in the Gambia,
  • expansion of external linkages with regional and international research institution to tap funding and joint programs,
  • improve research management capacity through higher training of 7PhDs 13 MSc. and 5 BSc.
  • Introduce and released improve varieties of rice, millet, sorghum, groundnuts, cassava, sweet potato and fruit trees, and cowpeas.
  • In collaboration with the Chinese, completed a national Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrient Survey for the Lowland and Upland Ecologies, with a view to identify the suitable sites for optimum crop production to interested farmers.
  • Developed environment friendly pest management practices on the use of botanical insecticide based on Neem and Garlic extracts, tested on horticultural crops to control pest of vegetables.
  • Developed integrated Striga management options for the control of Striga on cereals.
  • NARI have first discovered and reported the presence of Bractocera melon-fly in West Africa. And also identified a chemical attractant with Rothermsted in UK, for fruit-flies.
  • Successfully tested and introduced NERICA Rice in The Gambia

The scope of agricultural research covers the biological, human and other sciences relevant to animal, plant and fish resources and production, and also the exploitation of natural resources (soils, water) on which such production is based. Over the last decade, NARI research areas focused on improvements in cereals production, grain legumes and oilseeds improvement and development, horticulture production and post harvest management, cropping systems and resource management, agro-forestry in production systems and agricultural engineering. It also carryout socioeconomic assessment, and study, supervise and control seed production.