As an association and individuals of the CropLife network we are passionate to improve the productivity of today’s low yielding agricultural systems especially in Sub Saharan Africa and thus reducing this continent’s growing dependency on food imports.
With our efforts we contribute to strengthen the smallholder agricultural sector and thus help creating attractive jobs and living conditions in rural areas which in turn reduces the desire to migrate to large cities and/or abroad. With these overarching goals in mind and over the past 10 years CropLife Africa Middle East has developed the culture, experience and skills to engage in public and private par tnerships.
In close cooperation with our national association we have become an attractive partner for many stakeholders who share these same goals. It is from this overarch-ing ambition and positioning that we have developed our slogan – Partners in sustainable agriculture.
At CropLife Africa Middle East, we recognise that effective stewardship is crucial for doing business in Africa, especially in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) where regulatory enforcement may be poor. Therefore, we are committed to promoting and supporting the responsible use of crop protection products, complementing their contribution to achieving global food security.
The life cycle approach to crop protection is the responsible and ethical way to manage crop protection products from their discovery and development to their use and the final disposal of any waste. This approach promotes good agricultural practices and is a key element underpinning the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management.
CropLife Africa Middle East develops harmonised stewardship activities that member companies and other CropLife associations adopt and adapt to suit different situations. However, we welcome using our materials by the global community, particularly partner organisations working with policymakers, service providers, extension workers, and farmers. By working together, we can empower farmers to support sustainable livelihoods while safeguarding health and the environment.
At CropLife Africa Middle East, we are dedicated to promoting stewardship as a means to maximise the benefits of crop protection products while minimising any associated risks. Through our commitment to responsible and sustainable agriculture, we strive to contribute to the well-being of farmers, consumers, and the environment across the African continent.
As part of the industry’s on-going commitment to product stewardship, companies, regional and national associations provide training in IPM and the responsible use of crop protection products. The objective of such training is to maximize the benefits of crop protection products and minimize any risks associated with their use. IPM/Responsible Use programs are important to the Plant Science Industry as they contribute to the sustainability of the crop protection industry, which values the efficient application of its products and services as an integral aspect of its social and ethical commitments.
Elements of the program include:
- When and how to control pests, diseases, and weeds in line with IPM principles.
- How to apply crop protection products safely and effectively if they need to be used.
- The need for personal protection equipment when mixing and applying crop protection products and cleaning equipment.
- How to avoid unacceptable risks to others and the environment.
- How to minimize residues on the crop.
- That in the case of an over-exposure an active emergency helpline number exists on all product labels. This could be both a local and international number.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about an abrupt halt to our in-country face-to-face training programs. Fortunately, we were already in the process of exploring the use of mobile technology to reach out to farmers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Our goal from 2020 to end 2021 was to reach approximately 1.0 million farmers in 6 countries using a series of SMS messaging focused on the timings of the growing season.
We are also engaged in using social media in a specific country where this technology is widely used. Wherever possible these programs have been undertaken in partnership with other stakeholders, mainly governments. Feedback from our pilot study in 2020 showed that both the concept and messages were appreciated and well accepted.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about an abrupt halt to our in-country face-to-face training programs. Fortunately, we were already in the process of exploring the use of mobile technology to reach out to farmers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Our goal from 2020 to end 2021 was to reach approximately 1.0 million farmers in 6 countries using a series of SMS messaging focused on the timings of the growing season.
We are also engaged in using social media in a specific country where this technology is widely used. Wherever possible these programs have been undertaken in partnership with other stakeholders, mainly governments. Feedback from our pilot study in 2020 showed that both the concept and messages were appreciated and well accepted.
- Disposal of the legacy of obsolete stocks of crop protection products is a long-term global issue.
- Of an estimated 500,000 tonnes globally, much results from local manufacture in Eastern Europe and the Far East. Uncoordinated aid donations, particularly for locust control, and poor stock management have played a significant role in the accumulation of obsolete stocks in Africa.
- Deterioration of stocks under poor storage conditions continues to the point of presenting a potential danger to nearby communities and to the local environment. Some obsolete stocks include Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) capable of transcontinental migration if liberated into the atmosphere.
- CropLife International member companies together with Shell, working within the CropLife Obsolete Stocks Program, have been engaged in the clean-up of obsolete pesticide stocks and the prevention of new stockpiles for nearly three decades.
- CropLife International actively contributed to the Africa Stockpiles Program and continues to contribute to obsolete stocks safeguarding and disposal in collaboration with national and international development agency partners.
Since 1990, the plant science industry has been working in a variety of countries to facilitate safe disposal projects.
Facilitation has involved finding additional donor funding, organizing projects, supervising operations in the field or, when appropriate, reconditioning usable stocks. Such projects typically last for 2-3 years.
Between 1991 and 2003, the crop protection industry participated in over 25 multi-stakeholder projects in 20 countries, in collaboration with over 30 organizations, leading to the safe disposal of an estimated 3,000 tonnes of obsolete pesticides.
From 2003, CropLife International collaborated with other partners to implement the Africa Stockpiles Program (ASP), which sought to safely dispose of obsolete pesticide stocks and associated waste across Africa.
By 2018 an estimated 9,000 tonnes of obsolete pesticides will have been destroyed – see below.
Following the end of the ASP, CropLife International has continued to partner with organizations such as FAO and the World Bank to eliminate obsolete stocks on a country-by-country basis. Additionally, since the 1990s, another 15,000 tonnes were collected and destroyed in OECD countries by CropLife national associations, in partnership with local governments and others.
A leaflet describing CropLife International’s obsolete stocks activities is available here, CropLife International’s position regarding obsolete stocks is available here and guidelines for managing obsolete stocks are available here.
Resistance management is seen as an integral part of the stewardship approach to management of crop protection products and is regarded as an essential element of sustainable pest control. Promotion of voluntary resistance management strategies should be a priority for industry and non-industry stakeholders.
The region currently has 4 active Resistance Management Committees whose function is to develop proactive training programs ( for regulatory authorities, extension services and users), including the development and distribution of communication materials.
All crop protection products must be handled with respect and certain basic precautions must be followed.
In some situations, such as during the mixing and loading of formulations, additional items of protective clothing may be required to ensure safety. Such additional items of protective clothing will be specified on the relevant
product labels.
According to the FAO Guidelines for Personal Safety when Handling and Applying Pesticides, as a minimum precaution and to reflect real-life situations in LMIC, users should wear lightweight work clothing that covers most of the body, such as a long-sleeved shirt, long trousers, a hat, chemical-resistant gloves, and boots that do not absorb spray.
A Spray Service Provider (SSP) is a farmer who has received special training by CropLife to apply pesticides and who hires out his services to (fellow) farmers to spray their lands.
This implies that untrained farmers will no longer handle pesticides, and that this application will only be undertaken by those who are properly trained and certified. CropLife Africa Middle East has developed the SSP concept to improve access to quality pesticides and the correct application of these, resulting in higher yields.
The SSP concept was successfully introduced in Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia in a variety of crops.
Learn about Spray Service Providers (SSP)
Testimonials
THE SUCCESS OF SSPS IN THE VEGETABLE SECTOR IN GHANA
Kwame is a Spray Service Provider (SSP) and lives in Gonse in the Greater Accra region. He is one of the 268 SSPs who was trained by CropLife Ghana in 2019, supported by the SNV/HortiFresh project. Together, the SSPs serviced more than 9,000 farmers over a 2-years period.
Kwame
Building Blocks
Foster Gawa (43) lives in Agorve in the Volta region. With earnings up to 4,600 GHS, he gained himself a nice extra income that is much higher than he ever expected and decided to invest the earnings into a solar pumping machine and save on electricity to expand his farm and irrigation system.
Gawa
Solar pumping machine
SSP Aaron Gadagbui (43) decided to offer other services, in addition to his application services. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is promoting the use of scales among tomato farmers to ensure that they are getting paid for the actual weight. Aaron, who is mainly servicing female farmers, noticed that most of them find the weighing process too cumbersome. Aaron collected scales from the MOFA office and helped several female farmers.
Aaron
Two extra baskets
