The excessive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, as well as the practice of extensive agriculture, contribute greatly to environmental degradation through the pollution of soil and water resources, the destruction of biodiversity and the loss of natural habitats. Environmentally-friendly, intensive farming has become a necessity to achieve production and productivity objectives, as well as to preserve human and environmental health.
Reconciling the need to guarantee crop health through phytosanitary treatment with the need to protect the environment is a priority in our support for agripreneurs. That's why we organized a practical training course on phytosanitary treatment techniques and environmentally-friendly intensive production for agricultural entrepreneurs at two sites in Logone Oriental.
This training, which lasted two days per site, was made up of classroom sessions and practical work on the production sites. We were able to help tenant farmers, in general, to adopt environmentally-friendly farming practices, such as the use of sustainable cultivation techniques, agroforestry, water management, organic fertilization, crop rotation, integrated biological pest and disease management. More specifically, the trainer trained the farmers to
- Awareness of the environmental issues associated with extensive farming and the negative consequences for their environment;
- Gain a better understanding of the environmental issues associated with the use of phytosanitary products in the field.
- The use of integrated pest management techniques to reduce the use of phytosanitary products.
- Identify the different types of environmentally-friendly plant protection products available and accessible, and understand their mode of action;
- Evaluate conditions of use and decide on the most appropriate ecological crop protection products for each situation;
- Application of safety rules and procedures for handling and applying ecological phytosanitary products;
Practical in nature, the trainer put the farmers in real-life situations, enabling them to immediately apply what they had learned and receive feedback from the trainer. Following these training sessions, our team of focal points in the field will continue to monitor the effective application of the knowledge acquired during this training, during the current agricultural season.
The project aims to strengthen the resilience of rural producers by diversifying their sources of income. In concrete terms, the project supports 130 rural producers in the creation/structuring and management of agricultural and non-agricultural micro-enterprises in the target provinces of Logone Oriental and Mayo Kebbi Est. The project is financed by IDH in partnership with Olam Agri & CotonTchad SN.
