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Integrated pest and land management experiences and perspectives in The Gambia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Ole Zethner
Ole Zethner
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, The Gambia
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Abstract

The various agricultural ecosystems in The Gambia are described in brief, and the richness of flora and fauna discussed. Indiscriminate cutting of trees without replanting, bush fires and mechanization of commercial crops have so far been much more destructive to the environment than has chemical control.

In the future one may expect more chemical control to be used in commercial crops, but probably not in subsistence cultures. With more commercial enterprises and less government participation, risks for the environment will probably increase.

The CILSS Integrated Pest Management Project (1983–1987) showed that it is possible to reduce yield losses without endangering the environment. IPM approaches can improve the methods of cultural and traditional control in subsistence cultures, and keep chemical control at a low level in commercial crops. Introduction of varieties which are tolerant or resistant to the most important pests, and biological control agents can be used for a number of crops. The system of surveillance, which was introduced for a number of pests by the CILSS project, should serve as a permanent basis for all control activities.

Résumé

Les différents écosystèmes agricoles en Gamble sont brèvement décrits et la richesse de la flore et de la faune discutées. Coupant des arbres sans en replanter, les feux de brousse, et la mécanisation montante des cultures commerciales ont déjà posé de plus serieuses menaces qu'en ont posé les mesures de la lutte chimique.

Dans le future on pourralt s'attendre à un développement de la lutte chimique pour des cultures commerciales, mais probablement pas pour les cultures subsistence. Avec plus d'entreprises commerciales et moins de participation gouvernementale le risque pour l'environnement va probablement augmenter.

Le CILSS “Integrated Pest Management Project” (1983–1987) a montré les possibilités de reduire les pertes de recolte sans mettre en danger l'environnement. Les démarches du IPM peuvent améliorer les méthodes des luttes culturelles et traditionelles des cultures subsistence, gardant la lutte chimique a son plus bas niveau possible dans les cultures commerciales, et en introduisant des variétés de culture tolerantes ou résistantes aux ennemis importantes et des méthodes de la lutte biologique pour toute les cultures. Comme une base permanente pour toutes actlvités des luttes, le système de surveillance établie par le projet pour les ennemis majeures doit continuer.

Keywords

Integrated pest managementenvironmentalternative control methodseducationThe Gambia
Type
Part I: Symposium on Integrated Pest Management and Environmental Conservation: Pest Management Strategies and Practices
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 12 , Special Issue 5-6: Aspects of Pest Management in Relation to Agricultural Production and Environmental Conservation in Africa , December 1991 , pp. 541 - 545
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1991

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References

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