IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANTWISE IN SIERRA LEONE I. M. O. SHAMIE Director of Crops (MAFFS)
HOW IT STARTED
Organisation Who is involved? National authority
Regional Coordination
Clinic implementation
MAFFS/Crops Division/Crop Protection Services
District Crop Protection offices
MAFFS Crop Protection Officers
MAFFS /Projects/ District Councils
NATC/Njala University/FBC/ GAFSP/COOPI/IITA
Partnership between Plantwise & the NPPO • National responsible organisation for Plantwise =
the NPPO • Plant doctors are extension agents working for the
MAFFS • Plant doctors support general surveillance activities: o Part of the national Early Warning System (EWS) o Clinic reports are collected and sent to Crop
Protection Services HQ • Phytosanitary services alerts plant doctors of
emerging issues • Plant doctors hold meetings with the communities to
raise awareness about emerging issues.
Results so far • 36 clinics providing advice to farmers in 13
districts • MAFFS signed a Partnership Statement and Data Sharing Agreement with PW • Plantwise activities included in MAFFS, Crop Protection Services and the Sierra Leone Agriculture Research Institute (SLARI), NATC Njala staff, District Agricultural Officers ‘ annual performance contracts. • Staff appointed in MAFFS with new ToRs to
coordinate PW activities and data processing.
• Crops Division has also signed MoU with GAFSP of the SCP/CAADP to establish 50 plant clinics at the ABCs • MAFFS in collaboration with the District Councils to provide funds for running plant clinics. • NATC staff have started running plant clinics to encourage students to become interested in PW activities. • Recommendations have been made to NATC/Njala University to incorporate plant doctor training into their curriculum. • PW has established a Sierra Leone‐specific knowledge bank website
Lessons learnt • Communication between plant health stakeholders is
key. • nstitutionalisation of plant clinics by the MAFFS is
critical for sustainability • Champions at all levels of operation an ingredient for
success • Partners realizing PW role in facilitating their success
builds enthusiasm for participation • Need to be ready to respond to increased demand
Next steps • Identifying 25 ABCs for locating plant clinics, and
training of 50 plant doctors for running of the new clinics • Link plant clinics with newly established Agricultural
Business Centres at 48 sites across the country • Further strengthen the plant clinic data management
process • Using data from clinics to identify major pests • Developing extension materials such as pest
management decision guides to support plant doctors as they give advice
Key message • Plantwise activities complement IPPC‐
related activities o Plant clinic data support pest surveillance o The clinics build farmers confidence on the
services provided by MAFFS and a link for communicating on emerging pest problems.
THANK YOU