Community Education for Pesticide Risk Reduction in Greater Mekong Subregion: An OverviewBy: Jan Ketelaar & Alma Linda Abubakar, FAO-IPM Programme in AsiaPresentation for Fruit Fly Inception Workshop, AIT, Bangkok, Thailand, 02 September 2010

Outline PresentationBackground: Agricultural Scenario (2010-2050)Overview: FAO-IPM/Pesticide Risk Reduction Programme (goal, scope, components, partners, focus, IPM-FFS, action research)Pesticide Risk Reduction: Concepts & EquationVietnam: Case study Community Education and Mobilization for Pesticide Risk ReductionExpected outcomes PRR project

Agricultural Scenario (2010-50)By 2050: 9.2 billion people and twice as much food neededDeclining water & land per caput (4.3 ha (1961) to 1.6 ha (2050), lower productivity growth & production stress from climate changeRapid urbanization & new consumer demandsNeed to Intensify Production and challenge to do so sustainably!

Crop Intensification RisksIncreased use of agro-chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) and potential environmental pollution & food safety concernsAgricultural intensification brings risks from plant pests and from the pesticides often used to control them (e.g. rice BPH and virus outbreaks in GMS).

Rapidly growing human traffic and plant trade (for food security and global markets) increases risks of transboundary movement of pests and diseases (e.g. coconut hispid beetle, cassava pink mealybug).

Rice BPH, Hopper Burn, Ecosystem Services and IPM Farmer Education

KASAKALIKASANThe Philippine National IPM ProgrammeTrends in Insecticide Use and Frequency of Application in Major Rice Producing Provinces in Central & Southern Luzon, Philippines, 1996 - 2007 (Rola & Pingali, 1993; Mataia, Jamora, Maya & Dawe, 2009; Warburton, Palis & Pingali, 1995; Dawe, 2006; IRRI, 2007) Ecosystem Services for Sustainable Intensification of Crop Production

Sustainable Conservation and Utilization of Ecosystem Services for Sustainable Intensification of Crop Production

KASAKALIKASAN The Philippine National IPM ProgrammeIncrease Yield/ha >12%Reduction variability of yields across seasons 60% 10.5 MMT (1994) to 16.8 MMT (2007)(Rola & Pingali, 1993; Mataia, Jamora, Maya & Dawe, 2009; Warburton, Palis & Pingali, 1995; Dawe, 2006; IRRI, 2007)

Back to rice, hoppers and sustaining vital ecosystem services for sustainable rice intensification.

Problems Associated with Distribution & Use of PesticidesUnregulated trade, distribution, re-packaging and use of toxic and often adulterated- pesticides negatively impacts on farmer health and environment in Cambodia and Laos.Pesticides labels often insufficient; frequently in foreign languages (e.g. Thai, Vietnamese & Chinese).Farm produce with high residue levels=> food safety concerns and trade barrierswww.ToxicTrail.org

Misuse and overuse of chemical pesticides in fresh fruit & vegetable production Farmers generally lack knowledge to identify pest and disease problems and assess risk.Often no Personal Protective Equipment.Safe use of pesticides a myth in tropical Asia!Problems Associated With Misuse & Overuse of Chemical Pesticides

FAO Asia Regional Vegetable IPM /Pesticide Risk Reduction Programme (1996-2013) www.vegetableipmasia.org

FAO-IPM Asian Member Countries

Context & FAO Intervention in AsiaSustainable Intensification of Agricultural Production, Food Safety and Trade Facilitation major driving forces for government commitment towards pesticide risk reduction. FAO assists member countries to: - strengthen pesticide policies and regulatory/enforcement systems;- step-up National IPM Farmer Field School programmes to enable farmers to adopt IPM, reduce pesticide use and grow better yielding, safer and more profitable rice, fruits & vegetables.

Background Pesticide Risk Reduction Pesticide abuse and overuse is still rampant in the Greater Mekong Sub-regionIntensive use of extremely and highly hazardous chemicals (e.g., WHO Class I agro-pesticides) by small-holder farmers is causing high incidence of farmer poisoning Concerns for pesticide risk reduction related to food safety, international trade facilitation and the environment Weak pest and pesticide management policies and associated regulatory systems and their enforcement Need for a multi-sectoral approach and regional cooperation to address problems associated with pesticides Initiated by SENSA the Swedish Environment Secretariat for Asia based on the following findings in the region (Kishi et al, 2004):

The Pesticide Risk Reduction Programme and FAO project GCP/RAS/229/SWE- aims to reduce health and environmental risk through capacity building for the sustainable management of agricultural and industrial chemicals.

Programme Component: Advocacy

ActivitiesImplementing AgencyBroad awareness raising about issues related to agricultural and industrial chemicals PANAP, The Field Alliance(in partnership with local CSOs)

Programme Component: IPM

ActivitiesImplementing AgencyStepping-up field programmes to help farmers adopt Integrated Pest Management and eliminate the use of highly hazardous pesticides & reduce exposure riskFAO (through National Programmes)

Programme Component: Policy

ActivitiesImplementing AgencyStrengthening pesticide regulatory framework and policy reform FAO-AGPP, HQ KemI and government partners in Laos and Cambodia

IPM Component: Project ProfileProject Title: Pesticide Risk Reduction in South East AsiaProject Symbol: GCP/RAS/229/SWEDonor: Government of Sweden through Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI)Geographical Focus: Greater Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Yunnan & Guangxi Provinces, China)Implementing Unit: FAO/AGP Regional (Vegetable) IPM Programme in collaboration with National IPM ProgrammesDuration of Initial First Phase: 6 years (Jan 2007-June 2013)Overall Budget: USD 6.5 M

Goal: Community education for pesticide risk reduction

Project Focus

Community education & mobilization for pesticide risk reductionTraining farmers and trainers using participatory learning approaches, including FFSIntensive pesticide use areasInitiate new -& building on existing- training networks, supported by government & CSOsNo strict commodity focus; Rice, Vegetables but also other crops (e.g., fruits) where pesticides are used heavily, negatively affecting farmers, consumers and the environment

China National IPM ProgramLowland and highland rice, vegetable & fruit production; intensive production for domestic and increasingly export marketsHigh use of pesticides, food safety concerns & trade barriersTraining of extension workers and farmers in IPM and pesticide risk reduction in Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces

What is a Farmers Field School ? The primary learning approach used in educating farmers about IPM.School without walls, farmers learn about crop ecology and pest management in the field.Season-long, from seed to harvest, 25-30 farmers.Aim to help farmers adopt IPM and produce safe food with less inputs of pesticides.

Principles of IPM FFSGrow a healthy cropRegular field monitoringOptimal use and conservation of natural biocontrolFarmers as IPM expertsFFS-training is:Discovery-based, learning by doingFarmer Empowerment

Action ResearchConducted within context of field study work by networks of IPM-FFS graduatesFarmers participate in design, implementation, analysis and application of field study resultsExamples: Exploring area-wide fruit fly management

Outcome of FFS =>EmpowermentFFS graduates:Learn & Apply ecological principals to manage biodiversity crops & agro-ecosystems;Master & Apply critical thinking skills at farm and community levels;Master applied discovery approaches for continued knowledge development;Acquire leadership skills for community mobilization.

Food Safety & Trade FacilitationIPM-FFS integration in GAP/Safe Vegetable Programmes Better market access and trade facilitation

Pesticide Risk Reduction No Hazard = No Risk No Exposure = No Risk

Risk = Hazard x ExposureProbability to cause harm as determined by hazard (chemical property) and exposure (environmental conditions and preventive action) equation

Hazard ReductionElimination of use of WHO Class I pesticides and adoption of novel options for pest management

Novel options for Pest ManagementNovel seeds, lures, pheromones, entomopathogens, classical biocontrol, biopesticides (e.g. Bt)Thailand: 350 Community Bio-Agent production Labs in 25 provinces, with stock and quality control provided by 9 DoAE Pest Management Centers

Exposure Reduction:Limiting exposure through better handling, use, storage, disposal of pesticides

Pesticide Risk ReductionCommunity education and mobilizationPolicy development and strengthening legislation and enforcement systems

Vietnam: Pilot Community Education Programmes on Pesticide Risk Reduction

Objective: to strengthen community ownership in pilot rural communities for planning, management and implementation of the pesticide risk reduction activities Scope: training and advocacy (leading to policy development) Stakeholders: local leaders, farmers, pesticide sellers, representatives from the public agriculture and health sector and social organizations

Pilot Community Education Programmes on Pesticide Risk Reduction

Summary of Country StrategiesCurriculum review and development particularly on pesticide risk reduction Development of curricula and training materials especially on new crops prone to pesticide misuse, e.g., fresh fruits & vegetablesImplementation of quality community education activities, e.g., farmer field schools and Community mobilization for implementation of pesticide risk reduction action plansDevelopment of M&E systems and impact assessment

End of project situation

Demonstrated effective models on community education for pesticide risk reduction for up-scaling by national IPM programmes Curricula developed for field training on pesticide risk reduction & IPM for new cropsReduced use of pesticides and elimination of WHO Class I products in pilot project areasFarmers making use of novel options for pest management Improved incomes and better livelihoods for farmers and communities involved in the project

For more Information on FAOs Involvement in IPM/Pesticide Risk Redution Farmer Training in South and Southeast Asia: Email: vegetable-IPM@fao.org Website: http://www.vegetableipmasia.org/

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