Based on the availability of non- GEF grants, this project may be scaled up. The groups will be encouraged to seek sources of funding for up scaling.
Based on the country's priorities, there are possibilities for scaling up this project into a GEF MSP.
Capacity - Building Component
Capacity needs in the areas of organic farming, the dangers of pesticides in agriculture and the environment, IPMs and the preparation of compost heaps have been identified. Beneficiaries' capacities shall be built on the capacity needs identified above through the organisation of various training programmes.
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
Group consultations of all beneficiaries
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Periodic project meetings, issue of progress reports, General Meeting with Women's Federation
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The appreciation and exploitation of the medicinal values of the seeds and leaves of the Neem Tree is identified as an alternative income generating activity for the beneficiaries.
Project sustainability
The materials for making organic pesticides consisting mainly of the neem oil extracting machine has been supplied to the groups by the project and are expected to continue the practice of making their own organic pesticides after SGP support comes to an end.
Policy Impact
The project shall be implemented in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture. As a result, the project shall complement government's policy in promoting organic farming and the reduction in the use of pesticides.
Replication of project activities
The project will demonstrate this innovation among federation groups in the Central River Region of The Gambia. there are similar groups in the other regions and at least one federation group has already indicated its willingness to replicate the activities.
Gender Focus
The target beneficiaires of the project is entirely Women Organisations in CRR South. This is a deliberate act to actually empower women in that region.
Linkages gef projects
There are possibilities for forging liks with large GEF projects which may be operating in the area.
Policy Influence
This project seeks to influence national policies regarding the use use of chemical pesticides by demonstrating the use of alternative no-chemical based pesticides that can be readily produced from plant materials.
Notable Community Participation
Young women in Horticulture (Youth Horticulture Growers) form part and parcel of the direct beneficiaries of the project.
Project Results
? 1 sensitization workshop for the Federation on the project objectives, planned activities, outputs/outcomes and the role of each player during project implementation. The workshop reached agreements on key elements regarding the implementation arrangements and the schedule for all the planned activities and dates.
? The project completed a comprehensive training programme to built the capacity of 40 Federation women members constituting 823 participants (from a total federation membership of 6, 000) drawn across Central River Region South on:
o The practice and adoption of organic pesticides as an alternative to the use of expensive synthetic pesticides and highlighting the dangers associated with chemical pesticide usage, cost implications etc and compared this to those of organic non-chemical pesticides which can be prepared cheaply from locally available materials.
o The use of organic fertilizers
o The preparation and use of quick Compost.
? Concluded a 'Training of Trainers? Workshop that built the capacity of 206 participants of 26 Women Groups in Niamina Dankunku, and Lower and Upper Fulladu Districts on IPM, quick compost and crop rotation techniques. The training were geared towards demsontrating the advantages of compost and cultural practices in improving soil fertility rather than using artificial chemical fertilizer.
? Procurement of the inputs (5 neem ? seed oil pressing machines, 10 wheel barrows, 10 knap sack sprayers, 5 mortars and pestles, 10 spades and 15 rakes) required for neem ? seed oil extraction and quick compost making
? Prepared, printed and disseminated a ?how ? to ? manual? on Organic Pesticide preparation from Neem seed extract.
- The women farmers in the past resorted to the use of chemical pesticides namely: Systemic chemical, Emulsify Concentrate (EC) solution, Malathion dust and Sumicombi dust to cotrol pests such as white flies, red spider mites etc. before the coming of the SGP project, it was reported that a group of 40 women farmers in a federation would use about 1, 800 litres of chemical solutions per to control pest infestations.
- Chemical pesticide usage by the women belonging to the federation has been reduced to zero as no chemical pesticides were utilised with the advent of the SGP project. The groups now entirely rely on organic pesticide formulated from neem tree seeds and mixed with water to be used as insect propellants.
- The savings made from the switch from chemical pesticide to organic pesticide use averages about D4, 500 per hectare.
