Dr. Peter Chinwada,the International consultant for the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Project and the lead technical officer on behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), visited Seychelles from 22nd to 26th July 2024. During his mission, Dr. Chinwada held meetings with the agricultural officials, visited farms and also met with the chaiman of the farmer’s association.
On Friday, 25th July 2024, Dr. Chinwada conclude his fact-finding mission with a debriefing session attended by the staff members of the Agriculture Department and the Principal Secretary, Mr. Keven Nancy.
The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss observations made during Dr. Chinwada’s mission regarding the promotion of integrated pest management in response to climate change in Seychelles. Key topics included preparing a list of major plant pests currently affecting crop production in the country, detailing project costs and timelines and addressing capacity building for both employees and farmers through the TCP project.
The FAO defines Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as the careful consideration of all available pest control techniques and subsequent integration of appropriate measures that discourage the development of pest populations. This approach maintains pesticide and other interventions at levels that are economically justified while reducing risks to human health and the environment. IPM emphasizes the growth of healthy crops with minimal disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms.
The Department of Agriculture remains committed to continuous expertise and support from external partners to ensure the effective implementation of pest management strategies and the protection of the environment in Seychelles.