In 2005 the project undertook scoping and information collection activities, following our initial partner planning meeting in April 2005. During August-October 2005, PAN Africa conducted a survey of 120 smallholders growing vegetables for export and local markets and interviews with stakeholders in horticulture promotion and training initiatives. In November 2005, the first stakeholder workshop in Africa was held in Dakar, Senegal, with participants from the horticulture sector, government agencies, research institutes, NGOs and consumer associations. A full copy of the proceedings in French can be obtained from PAN Africa. Powerpoint presentations in English were made by PAN UK on Pesticide residues: health concerns, consumer views and supermarket actions, by PAN Germany on Pesticide residues in food: an issue of concern in Europe and by International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology on Kenya strategies to sustain participation of smallholders in fresh produce export to the EU: responding to food safety standard requirements. The content of the last presentation is covered in the subsequent article in PN 71 by B Nyambo and R Nyagah.

	Interviews were conducted with vegetable traders in traditional wet markets, like Castor, one of Dakar’s biggest fresh produce markets.

NEW: During 2006-2007 PAN Africa organised focus group discussions with smallholders trained and non-trained in Integrated Pest Management on the main problems they face in growing vegetables profitably, their pesticide use and experiences of pesticide-related ill health. Farmers also described their marketing channels, the pros and cons of different channels, their relations with traders and exporters, and their customers’ quality requirements and interest in pesticide issues

From 8-23 July 2006 we organised a farmer exchange visit of 5 Senegalese vegetable smallholders to meet with European farmers, food sector companies, consumers and NGOs.  The aim of the visit was to give African farmers a voice to explain how European food chain demands affect their livelihoods and to explore lessons from how European farmers are coping with pesticide restrictions and marketing problems: Horticulture farmer exchange visit from Senegal to Europe July 2006 (pdf - 70KB) . The farmers represented organic, women’s and Integrated Pest Management farmer associations: Background on farmer participants in exchange visit to Europe (pdf 39KB). The programme included visits to large and small, organic and conventional vegetable farms in Germany, Netherlands and UK: Farmer Exchange programme and issues explored (pd16KB) . A joint seminar was held with the farmers in London with the UK Food Group entitled Where does the most sustainable tomato come from? to explore issues of smallholder livelihoods; farm worker conditions in UK; energy consumption and climate change; and corporate power in horticulture supply chains.

• Seminar report: Where does the most sustainable tomato come from? (pdf 38KB)
• Seminar presentations
  • Organisation of tomato and vegetable production in Senegal: a view from the experience of women's farming associations (1MB)
  • Challenges and opportunities for IPM and organic farmers in Senegal (1.7MB)
  • Labour issues and UK farm workers (340KB)
  • Tomatoes and greenhouse gas emissions (240KB)
  • The impact on farmers of the agri-chain and supermarkets: based on examples of the fruit and vegetable sector (760KB)
• Key lessons from the farmer exchange and next steps for the Senegalese activities

NEW: In October 2007, PAN UK convened a lesson-learning workshop with European and African participants from public, private and NGO organisations to discuss ‘How can supply chains foster safer pest management in African local and export markets?’ The workshop brought together people working with smallholder support projects on compliance with export market requirements and those working on reducing smallholder reliance on hazardous pesticides through organic and IPM approaches and supporting safer food for consumers in local markets. Read the workshop summary and main lessons learnt

A detailed report of the workshop and presentations can be obtained by contacting stephaniewilliamson@pan-uk.org