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Momodou
Denmark
11721 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Sep 2007 : 21:33:40
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Strides To Control Locust Gain Momentum
By Isatou Bittaye
Strides to control locust in The Gambia, have gained momentum, as 12 regional Quest team members were recently trained on how to respond positively to any possible locust invasion in the country.
The acting project coordinator of the Africa Emergency Locust Project (AELP) in The Gambia, Mr. Sheikh Tijan Sosseh, brainstormed with the participants on the need for Quest teams in the country and its importance, most particularly, during locust invasions. Mr. Sosseh advised the trainees that, as quest team members, they should work under one umbrella, support each other and compliment each others effort. He urged them to always define the objectives of their work and deal with people who are directly and indirectly exposed to the dangers of pesticide use such as distributors, sellers, application teams, pesticide storekeepers, the local population, amongst others.
Mr. Saikou Jammeh, from the Agricultural Pest Management Unit (APMU), for the Central River Region, exposed the participants to the different classifications of locust. He indicated that locusts belong to the animal kingdom. He further went on to introduce them to the polymorphism phase of locust, the difference between locust and grasshoppers, revealing that the locust is a gregarious species. Mr. Jammeh lectured the participants on calibration which is among the other necessary stages in locust control. Mr. Lang Kemo Kinteh, Divisional Agricultural coordinator for Lower River Region, made a presentation on the importance of Personal Protective Gears (PPG). He also informed the trainees of the impacts of pesticides if it penetrates the human body, as it is very effective.
Mr. Sheik Tijan Sosseh introduced the Global Positioning System (GPS) to the trainees and dwelt on the wider range of the use of the GPS. He exposed the trainees on the operation techniques, usefulness and sensitivity of the GPS during locust invasion. The trainees conducted a field exercise on the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to showcase their newly acquired talents at a farm in Karantaba in the Lower River Region.
Mr. Suwadou Badjie, a Medical and Health Officer from the Department of State for Health, exposed the trainees to pesticide poisoning, safety and first Aid, as well as incident reporting forms during locust operation. He dwelt on the consequences of the improper use of pesticides during locust control to the human health. Mr. Abdoulie Colley of the National Environment Agency (NEA), in his presentation on the risk of pesticides, defines the term and the types of risks, such as occupational risk exposure and local population risk. He also explained the various ways in which the local community can be at risk during spraying operations. He reminded the trainees to noted that contaminated equipment or vehicle control base should not be close to dwelling places and that people should be advised to keep safe distance; that local people should be informed operation periods and at pre-harvest intervals. He also informed them of the dangers of the use of empty pesticide and urged the team to remind people on the risk of storing food or water in it.
The trainees again conducted another field exercise to be shown the effectiveness of the pesticides where they created traps in an empty field at the outskirt of Jenoi both in treated and untreated area. The trainees collected the traps in the next day and separated the catches and the unwanted drops and were shown the effectiveness of the chemicals and its dangers to the human health.
Mr. Harouna Jallow from AFRIMED, a non-governmental health institute, gave the participants a wider background on cholinesterase. He also buttressed on the importance of cholinesterase test and the need for it. Mr. Jallow said that it is important for the regional Quest team members to be tested before spraying operation and after operation inorder to know their baseline cholinesterase.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 110/2007, 19 -20 September 2007
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