Project Detail

Cultivation of Artemisia (Artemisia annua Anamed), by Women Farmer Groups to enhance phasing out of Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) Pesticides in Public Health and Agriculture Through Integrated Pest Management Options including Non-Chemical Alternatives”.

Artemisia is a high-value crop and does have a positive impact on malaria infection rate and therefore on the need for DDT presently used in Indoor Residue Spraying, the group found it necessary to contact the National Agricultural Research Institute for a possible program to produce this essential crop. The group is concerned that DDT like other members of its group is highly persistent in the environment; it is bio accumulative and can be transported to long distances thus causing harm to the environment and to organisms far away from the point of application. The use of DDT has become a global problem and it is therefore absolutely essential to prevent it?s reintroduction into agricultural systems in The Gambia.

This project seeks not only to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of DDT as a POP pesticide, but also to necessarily reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides particularly those used in vegetable production systems in The Gambia.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Kalphehba Kafo Women Farmers of Salikene

Country:

Gambia

Area Of Work:

Chemicals

Operational Phase:

OP5-Y3 (Jul 13 - Jun 14)

Grant Amount:

US$ 27,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 3,500.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 12,000.00

Project Number:

GMB/SGP/OP5/Y3/STAR/CH/13/15

Start Date:

8/2013

End Date:

7/2014

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Capacity - Building Component

A considerable amount of project activities is geared towards building capacity of the local community in formulation and method of application in using naturally occurring alternatives to chemical pesticides. The Agricultural Research Institute and Plant Protection Services of the Department of Agriculture, provide technical support for the project.

Project sustainability

The first harvest of Artimisiahas been done, the leaves dried and package into sachets to be used as tea infusion for malaria control. There is a very high local market demand for for the produce as malaria is a big problem in the area. Thus the economic and health impact is already being realized and this can be enough motivating factor to sustain the project objectives for the long run. The women also noted that the other vegetables sown alongside the artimesia crop, did not have any pest infestation and they did not use any chemicals for pest control purposes during this period. Thus there is indication that Artimesia is a strong insect repellent that needs further trial to be conclusive. The potential of this realization though, is enough motivating factor for the women to keep growing the crop and sustain the ideals of the project for the long term.

Gender Focus

The grantee is an all women-group who are engaged in vegetable farming as a livelihood. However, the technical experts helping with the project are male.

Policy Impact

The outcome of the project will greatly influence future policy decision regarding the use of agro-chemical in horticulture as it will find atlernatives which are cheaper and safer to human health and the environment.

Notable Community Participation

The project is a community-based project based in Salikene - a major rural town in the middle part of The Gambia. The women groups are the most active in the implementation of the project since it is dealing with vegetable gardening, a strong niche for the community women.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Vegetable gardening is a very reliable source of income for the women in this community. however, pest problems is a menace and they have problems dealing with it using synthetic chemicals. This project will provide sound and applicable integrated crop pest management strategies, thus increasing crop yield. Artemisia is a high value economic group and one objective is to shift women from growing highly perishable vegetables to growing Artemisia.

Project Results

- A piece of land slightly more than one hectare was allocated by the village authorities to the Kaplheba Women Kafo farmers as the site for the project on the outskirt of Salikene village. The site is to be used as the garden for the group and was fenced by the project in August 2013.

- Land preparation at the site started in October 2013 and the land was levelled off after plouging up the entire area which was then demarcated into individual plots. The individual plots were watered and then covered with plastic sheets for solirization.

- on October 10, 2013, a 2-day training session was conducted for the group on nursery management practices to promote sound horticultural practices geared towards eliminating the need for pest interventions and boost crop productivity. The training focused on agronomic and pest management practices.

- Alongside the land preparation process, the Artemisia seedlings were raised in the village in anticipation for their planting at the site in January 2014. The Artemisia seeds were procured from The National Agricultural research Institute (NARI) where some of the seedlings were raised in addition to the ones raised at the village. This was to ensure the availability of adequate seedlings in case the ones at the village failed for one reason of the other.

- To make available adequate water for the group, 4 wells were constructed in the garden and completed in early January 2014. Also at this time, the Artemisia seedlings were transplanted unto the beds which were prepared earlier on. The entire garden was divided into 2 parts with one part put to Artemisia seedlings and the second part to the commonly grown crops such as pepper, tomatoes, garden eggs, bitter tomatoes, cabbages etc.

- Up until the time of harvesting of the Artemisia and the vegetable crops in the garden, it was observed that there were virtually no pest or diseases observed or reported in the garden. During this 4- month growing period, no pesticides were utilised for pest control and this could be attributed to the effects of Artemisia which was reported to serve as an insect and pest repellent.

-One harvested, the Artemisia plants were dried in a cool room and processed into sachets which was sole locally as an infusion for malaria control among the villagers. The project has thus demonstrated that agronomic practices and pest management combining cultural, biological and other control options can reduce reliance on pesticide use particularly on vegetables.

- Among the useful lessons learnt was that the Artemisia crop can be harvested more than once if adequate care is provided after the first harvest.

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