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Project Description
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Project Description
The total geographical area of district Pishin is 585,000 hectares. However, only 118,840 hectares has been reported, which is 20.3% of the total area. The Project area of Pishin is poor in mineral resources, but rich in vegetation. The different valleys in district Pishin include Bershore, Churmian, Ajzai, Toba Kakri, Anjenai & Haji Khan Killa. The project s specific target area Union Council Gangalzai is situated in the Tehsil and District of Pishin. It is located at a distance of 24 km from District Headquarters. This Union Council consists of 8 small villages such as Gangalzai, Hajan Shunghri, Kala Shunghri, Hajizai Sharqi, Hajizai Gharbi, Koze Shunghari, Killi Hospital and Killi Parkhan. The population of the UC is round about 20,000. The major source of income of the inhabitants is horticulture such as apple, grape, peach, apricot orchards, etc. Some people are engaged in different small scale businesses in Quetta city. The surrounding distance of the UC is 10-12 Km. The inhabitants of this area have a simple lifestyle and they believe in religious values. Most of them are Pushto speaking with local casts of Syed, Kakar and Achakzai. Keeping in view the above-mentioned issues, the project will focus on sustainable land management minimizing use of pesticides and reduce their cost of production from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 2,000 per season per acre. Before establishment of the Field Station cum Laboratory at Union Council Gangalzai, the extensive baseline survey of the project will be undertaken by the involvement of local community and ECI partner organizations such as Kuchlak Welfare Society (KWS), local CBOs associated with Trust for Voluntary Organizations (TVO) as well as the Department of Agriculture, Pishin. Through the baseline survey, following information will be collected: Types of insecticides being used: To determine the mean %age of POPs components present in the soil and apple orchards, information about types of insecticides with their chemical groups would be made available. Frequency of insecticides sprays: Based upon the personal contacts with local NGOs, CBOs, Department of Agriculture and the local growers, exact number of insecticide sprays being used currently in the project area would be determined. The level of insecticide residues in soil, ground water and orchards: To determine the level of insecticide residues in soil, ground water and orchard plants, the soil, water and fruit samples would be tested from an authorized laboratory or the nearest PCSIR laboratories. Existing orchard management practices: In the absence of environment friendly technologies in an area, usually the growers either depend upon chemical applications or use the indigenous methods of orchard management to minimize their crop losses. The project would collect the detailed information from all the local sources in this aspect. One of the main objectives of the organized baseline survey would be to compare the initial situation of the orchard management before commencement of the project with the situation after completion of the project. This exercise would also help in both the internal and external monitoring & evaluation of the project. Project objectives: 1. Biological control based Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of apple pests with major emphasis initially on 12 apple orchards keeping in view the sustainable land management practices. 2. Capacity building of 50 growers to promote commercialization of biological products leading towards programme approach in three years period. Activities to be carried out under the project: 1. Community dialogue for orientation and social mobilization of farmers in the context of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) to promote biological based IPM approach. 2. Establishment of IPM Field Station cum laboratory for execution of field based operations and mass rearing of natural enemies. 3. Survey of the target area to determine initial situation of the orchards and incidence of various pests. 4. On-farm training and education of the growers to demonstrate impact of chemical fertilizers, insecticides, water logging & salinity on the land and insect population. 5. Selection of orchards with the purpose of introducing biological approach to compare with traditional farms where land management practices are not sustainable and the insecticides are indiscriminately used. 6. Application of various IPM measures such as: Biological releases Cultural practices / organic manuring Soil management Suitable intercropping Irrigation management Weed management Mechanical control Use of pheromones and light traps Promotion of insect resistant indigenous varieties. 7. Farmer Field Schools (FFS) for the growers of different farms to build their capacity in preparation and commercialization of biological products 8. Arranging exposure visits of traditional farmers in other areas of the country where IPM is being practiced as a component part of sustainable horticulture 9. Identification of local market channels to promote sale of biological products including natural enemies, bio-pesticides, pheromones, insect traps and organic manures. 10. Reporting and documentation of the findings and publication of IPM Training Manuals 11. Media projection and visibility of the project for secondary adopters The project has direct relevance with GEF/SGP Operational Program on Sustainable Land Management (OP #15). The principle reasons for development of this project are extensive land degradation
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