Training 100,000 farm families in the responsible use of crop-protection products.
In the Adoni region of Andhra Pradesh, South India, there are multiple crops (resulting in year round cropping), a high percentage of full-time farmers, high pesticide use and a high rate of “adverse pesticide incidence”.
To maximise the benefits and minimise the risks of using crop protection products, a project was developed which aimed to train (directly, or indirectly via farmer to farmer transmission) 100,000 farm families in the responsible use of crop protection products within the context of Integrated Pest Management (IPM); promote the secure storage of crop protection products amongst 100,000 farm families; demonstrate statistically valid impacts (behavioural changes, reduction in contamination and poisoning incidents) on the target population; and determine what interventions are the most effective in changing behaviour.
A number of different stakeholders are involved in this project: CropLife International, CropLife India, EFFORT (a micro-level experienced Voluntary Organization), Government Departments such as the Department of Agriculture, Medical & Health, Revenue and Development, and Village Communities, the farming community and Farmers’ Associations.
The milestones that the project achieved in the first year were: