The Spray Service Provider Programme is an initiative that aims at promoting the safe use of pesticides among the small scale farming community in Zambia.
CropLife Zambia (CLZ) started the initiative in 2008 in partnership with PROFIT / USAID, after it was identified that farmers needed information about the safe use of pesticides, how to identify genuine pesticides and how to apply these safely and effectively.
It was not realistic for CLZ to train all small-scale farmers in the country on the responsible use of pesticide, so it was decided to only train selected farmers. The purpose of this was to make sure that only people who could read and understand instructions would take responsibility for the handling of pesticides. These Spray Service Providers (SPPs) would then service the rest of the farming community and be paid as agreed between the individual farmer and the SSP. This would ensure that handling of pesticides is restricted and could be easily monitored.
The benefits of using SSPs are multiple Ð the correct pesticides are used at the correct time for targeting the correct pests, which ensures that the pesticides are used more efficiently and effectively. They also create a controlled line of distribution that prevents over-stocking, and enables the introduction of container management systems. Using SSPs also mean that there is a reduction in over-exposure to pesticides, and women and children are no longer exposed.
CropLife International educated the trainers of interested member companies of CropLife Zambia. These trainers then taught the selected farmers and linked them to the local agro dealers to ensure the purchase of quality products.
In the first phase in 2008-9 a total of 19 trainers from six member companies were trained and these went out and trained over 2700 Spray Service Providers. These SSPs serviced over 4,800 farmers in total. The trained SSPs were each issued with a safe use manual, polythene spray coat / suit, a pair of respirators, a pair of gloves and goggles. This was provided by CLZ to help the farmer with basic protection.
This was followed by radio adverts to introduce the SSPs to the farmers. The adverts were recorded in local languages and broadcast using community radio stations in various popular areas during the time of the day when most farmers were out of their fields.
The radio adverts were aired for four weeks at the beginning of the season, during October 2009. The response was strong, and CropLife received many requests for training from various farming communities and individual farmers who wanted to be SSPs.
CLZ also introduced an identity card bearing a photograph of trained SSPs for identification purposes when they went out into the field and interacted with farmers to differentiate them from frauds. The identify card is only valid for one year and needs to be renewed by following a refresher course.
The benefits of the programme include greater yields for all, with reduced risks of exposure to pesticides and more money going directly to farmers.