OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

1. To reduce the high level of rural poverty in Southern African countries by making agriculture more competitive and raising poor farmers’ incomes by cost effectively increasing crop yields, reducing storage loss and protecting cattle through improved use of pesticidal plants. The commercial growing of pesticidal plants will also provide poor, small-scale farmers with additional income.
   
2. To offset the high rate of natural resources degradation particularly with focus on plant biodiversity through better informed and sustainable production of pesticidal plants by improving approaches to harvesting from the wild and by investigating the cultivation of threatened species.
   
3. To develop an effective rural policy option with institutions and farmer groups supporting an agricultural production system based on pest management using indigenous, plant-based technology. Policies will be developed to ensure validated marketing and promotion of safe and effective plant-based pesticides.

   
   Agriculture continues to be the main livelihood in Africa and there is considerable scope to improve production. Pesticidal plants provide a low cost, locally available method for controlling pests, leading to higher yields and greater economic return.

   
   Scientific researchers and extensionists involved in the SAPP project hope to work with farmers to revolutionise the way in which pesticidal plants are used to protect crops and improve farmer livelihoods.

Back to top