Forum VI Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety, Dakar, Senegal. 15 th – 19 th September 2008 Integrated Pest & Vector Management Project, Sri Lanka - A combination of IPM and IVM to reduce both agricultural pests & disease vectors Dr. Rabindra R. Abeyasinghe, Director, National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Healthcare & Nutrition, Sri Lanka. National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

IPVM in Sri Lanka A pilot project was launched in 2002 with the aim of reducing the use of chemicals in paddy cultivation and reducing the use of insecticides for disease vector control especially malaria & Japanese encephalitis Partners –Department of Agriculture (DOA) –Anti Malaria Campaign (AMC) –Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka (MASL) Funding –Food & Agriculture Organization –Subsequently UNEP and WHO National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Background - IPVM in Sri Lanka High incidence of malaria in project districts, high use of chemicals in rice farming and high incidence of self poisoning among agricultural workers with pesticides. Availability of Farmer Field Schools in the DoA/MASL, District level entomological services in the AMC and the willingness to collaborate at central & peripheral levels. Availability of resources through the FAO and other donors National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Current situation of IPVM The project has now been extended to three different climatic zones where its replicability in different eco-environmental settings where paddy cultivation takes place is being explored. Recent success in malaria control has reduced the use of residual insecticides for malaria vector control and farming communities are being empowered to protect themselves from vector borne diseases through the use of Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets and IPVM activities. National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Assessment of impact of IPVM in Sri Lanka In each of the eco-environmental settings a test & control site was identified in close proximity to each other to ensure similar eco-environmental conditions, but an adequate distance away from each other to prevent contamination of either site. Densities of pests and vectors were analyzed and crop production from selected sites were also assessed. The application of chemicals was discouraged and closely monitored. National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Methodology of IPVM in Sri Lanka The project envisaged the use of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) as an instrument to teach farming communities integrated pest & vector management. The FFS concept was used to help farming communities identify pests, predators and vectors. They were taught to identify the image (adult stage) and the aquatic larva & pupa of these insects. Farming communities are encouraged to selectively help predators survive on the presumption that they will contribute to the control of pest and vector populations. Farming communities were also educated to keep the environs of their dwellings in such a condition that pest & vector breeding is minimized. National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Methodology of IPVM in Sri Lanka Farming communities were taught to identify pests and vectors by entomological personnel attached to the AMC. This is also carried out through the continuous evaluation of pest & vector populations at fortnightly intervals in test & control sites. Farming communities are involved in such evaluations and were taught to carry out self evaluation of pest, vector & predator populations. Evaluations are carried out in paddy cultivations and in the dwellings of farmers through entomological techniques such as larval collections (paddy fields, irrigation canals, seepage pools, tank margins and residential areas), cattle baited net trap collections, cattle baited hut collections. Pyrethrum spray sheet collections were also introduced in 2007 to monitor adult vector densities in dwellings. National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Results from the Kiribbanwewa IPVM site in Moneragala, Sri Lanka In Paddy fields –Data collected indicates lower mosquito larval densities in test sites than in control sites. Lower mosquito larval densities have often been associated with higher predator densities in test sites. –Culex tritaeniorhynchus was the most abundant species among Culex sp. and Anopheles peditaeniatus was the predominant Anopheline species breeding in the paddy field environments. –Water beetles, back swimmers were the main predator species found in paddy fields. National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Results from the Kiribbanwewa IPVM site in Moneragala, Sri Lanka

Seasonal Changes in the density of mosquito larvae in IPVM Test site and control site

Results from the Kiribbanwewa IPVM site in Moneragala, Sri Lanka Cattle Baited Net Traps –The density of mosquito populations were lower in test sites in comparison to control sites National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Results of Cattle Baited Net Trap Collections.

Results from the Kiribbanwewa IPVM site in Moneragala, Sri Lanka Cattle Baited Hut Collections –Hut collections in Moneragala revealed lower adult mosquito densities in the test site in comparison to the control site National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Results of Cattle Baited Hut Collections

Results from the Kiribbanwewa IPVM site in Moneragala, Sri Lanka Larval surveys –Larval surveys carried out in test & control sites indicated lower mosquito larval densities and higher predator densities in the test sites in comparison to the control sites. National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Results of larval surveys

Results from the Kiribbanwewa IPVM site in Moneragala, Sri Lanka Results indicated a higher density of aquatic predators in test sites. Main among these predators were water beetles, back swimmers, water bugs, dragon fly larva and larvivorous fish National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Summary of IPVM in Sri Lanka The project has clearly indicated that farming communities engaged in paddy cultivation can be educated and empowered to protect them selves from vector borne diseases. Education of farmers ad their families contributes to raising awareness in the community. Although this data has several limitations we believe that this is the first instance where integrated pest and vector management in paddy cultivations have shown true benefits in controlling vector populations. The project also illustrated that farming communities can be educated to maintain peridomestic environments where opportunities for vector breeding is minimized. The Department of Agriculture has reported lower use of pesticides in the test areas and increased productivity. Lower use of pesticides has contributed to a decrease in self- poisonings among agricultural communities. National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

Acknowledgements Financial support provided by FAO, UNEP and WHO Office SEARO. The support of the Department of Agriculture, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka and the staff of the Anti Malaria Campaign Entomology Division and Regional Office Moneragala. The farming communities in the test and control sites National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.

. THANK YOU. National Malaria Control Programme, Sri Lanka.