Awareness on Chemicals in Agriculture

Background
The CCL (Comité de Coopération avec le Laos) has been involved in implementing rural development programs in Laos for almost 40 years. Currently, CCL works in 4 provinces of Laos. In Phongsaly the CCL is currently implementing 2 projects aiming at strengthening local communities’ resilience towards climate change impacts and economic shocks. The projects follow an integrated and participatory approach.

The mission is integrated in the following program:

• Generating an inclusive Resilience and Environment Enhancement – GREEN (CCL, funded by AFD & BfW, 2023-2026)

The specific objectives of the Generating inclusive Resilience and Environment Enhancement Project (GREEN project – Phongsaly and Boun Neua districts) are:

1. The natural resources of Phongsaly province are preserved and sustainably managed to favor a sustainable, inclusive, and localized economic development;
2. The local stakeholders of Phongsaly province are strengthened, locally acknowledged, and participate in the sustainable and inclusive development of the territory;
3. The local stakeholders of Phongsaly province are strengthened, locally acknowledged, and participate in the sustainable and inclusive development of the territory.

In 2013 CCL supported the creation of the non-profit association COSKA. Since then, a close partnership has been effective between both organizations.  COSKA is partner to CCL for the implementation of both projects.
Context
According to the data and information obtained from the Participatory Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (PCRVA) in the 40 targeted villages (20 villages in Boun Neua and 20 villages Phongsaly district) herbicide and pesticides used is impacting health and environment of 11 villages in Boun Neua. This extensive use of herbicides and pesticides is caused by the intensive sugar cane production and impact the water drinkability, and the biodiversity surrounding the villages. During the PCRVA data collection with villagers, they mentioned that farmers are using quite heavy amounts of chemical herbicide and pesticides in their farms and they observed the direct impact on health issue, water pollution, land degradation and biodiversity loss.

To respond to this issue, GREEN project aims to work with villagers on agroecology technics that would allow the reduction of use of pesticides and herbicides in their crops production. To make the introduction to these technics the aim is to involve youth in awareness raising participatory activities in the targeted villages of BounNeua. 10 model farmers were already trained on those technics and will be showing during ecxchange visits after this awareness raising activities. The main activity of raising awareness to villagers may combine with several methodologies and techniques based on the skills and experiences of local consultants and firms, it may include to the best practice of using chemical herbicide game show, focus group discussion on what are that risk and impacts will affect to the farmers who are using chemical herbicides including the surrounding environment.
Scope of the consultancy
Raise awareness on herbicide and pesticide impact thanks to children from local schools, to introduce solutions of safety use and waste management, but also to link with agroecological technics that allow the reduction of pesticide and herbicide use in industrial crops production.
Overall objectives of the consultancy: Ensure the villagers in the targeted villages understand the risks and impacts of the chemical herbicide/pesticides usage through a participatory awareness raising activity that involves youth from local schools. And link this awareness raising to solutions emphasized by the project.
Specific objective 1: Training of youth from local schools, and creation of an awareness raising show on chemical used in crops production
Specific objective 2: Awareness at village level with the show created with youth from schools
Specific objective 3: Link the awareness activity to local solutions on usage of chemicals and implementation of agroecological technics

Find more details on Outputs, deliverables and working days in the ToR attached.