NEWS February
2000:
The IPM ‘A-Team’ Expands It’s Activities
In
recent months Asian IPM Trainers have been carrying out more and more
international assignments. Across the region they are providing advice on
planning and strategy development, conducting workshops, and acting as
resource people for season-long courses.
The
work of Asian IPM trainers is the theme of the latest edition of the Spider
Web Newsletter which can be found elsewhere on this website.
For
many years these trainers played a key role in the development of IPM
programes in their home countries while working for Government agencies
and NGOs. During 1997 and 1998, thirty of the most experienced
trainers from Cambodia, China, Indonesia and Vietnam attended a 6-month
course to develop their English Language skills and organisational
abilities. The course was funded by the Government of Netherlands, and
organised jointly by the FAO Programme for Community IPM in Asia and the
Institute for Training and Development in Amherst, Massachusetts. As
a result the ‘A-Team’ was formed
Simon
HT from Indonesia is currently undertaking his fourth assignment since he
completed the training at Amherst. He is facilitating a workshop on
Participatory Planning in Nepal attended by IPM trainers from both
Government and NGOs.
The photograph on the right shows Simon organising a similar
workshop last month in Sri Lanka.
Le
Minh Dung from Vietnam has just finished a mission to Laos where he has
been supporting a season-long training on vegetable IPM.
Other Vietnamese members of the A-team, Nguyen Tuan Loc and Le Thi
Sau, have carried out work in Nepal.
In
some cases, A-Team trainers from different countries combine their
expertise to carry out international assignments. For example, Chou
Cheythyrith
from Cambodia and Luisito Ofgnol from Philippines worked together
to support IPM rice training at three locations in Thailand last season.
Similarly, Alifah Lestari from Indonesia and Yech Polo from
Cambodia worked together to promote IPM at an International meeting in the
Netherlands last October. The photo below shows Alifah explaining IPM
training concepts to the Dutch Minister of Agriculture.
The
A-Team has also been active outside of Asia. Last year, Iv Pirun from
Cambodia helped to conduct IPM training in Ecuador, while Mufid
Busyairi from Indonesia is currently working in Tanzania.
Looking
ahead, 24 members of the A-Team will be gathering in Indonesia next month
to discuss a number of technical issues.
In particular they will be sharing experiences and preparing plans
which address farmers problems with rats, soils and seed management.
For
further information about the A-Team, send an Email to:
a-teamipm@attglobal.net
