“The malaria vaccine in humanist terms is the biggest need, but it gets 

virtually no funding. If you are working on male baldness or other 

things you get an order of magnitude more research funding because

 of the voice in the marketplace than something like malaria.” - Bill Gates

THE FIGHT AGAINST MALARIA IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

By Boaz Yagel Ziegelboim

In Sub-Saharan Africa, one of the most challenging problems we face 

with regards to Public Health is Malaria. We are all aware that we need 

to take these measures:

-  Improving health, quality and span of life through the management and/or treatment of Malaria

-  Creating awareness in the society for Malaria prevention

- Promoting Anti-Malaria activities through organizations, foundations, NGOs and businesses

- Eradicating the disease causing agents (mosquitoes)

- Educating the public for sustainability

Controlling malaria vectors, the Anopheles mosquitoes, is an ongoing challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, the anti-malaria vaccine is still under development, nevertheless large amounts of money are invested in the research. It is still not enough! The common approach of many NGOs and WHO (World Health Organization) is to focus on the fight against malaria, mostly with LLINs (Long lasting insecticide-treated bed nets). Indeed, millions of those nets were distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa in the last ten years. They certainly have a commercial edge for the multinational companies producing those nets; and as a fact, more and more multinationals are investing huge amounts of money in order to get WHO’s approval for the nets. The idea is correct, and perhaps works perfectly in the Western society. Yet, according to my experience, it has limited effect on the African ground for a few reasons:

* Many people find it difficult to sleep under those nets as they feel suffocated. Hence, they reject the idea.

* If not tightened correctly, the net still allows the mosquitoes to enter the “protected” zone and transfer malaria.

* In most cases, there is a need for one mosquito net for one person, unless they share the same bed. With the rapid population increase in malaria-endemic countries in Africa, the supply is often insufficient.

* Mosquito nets might protect the individuals in their habitats, but will not have any effect outside, when a person is exposed to nature.

There is, however, a combined approach which helps malaria prevention much more effectively. We should use LLINs together with Larvacide, the insecticide that is specifically targeted against the larval life stage of the mosquitoes, and IRS (Indoor Residual Spraying). However, regular Larvacide has a downside. Many of the Larvacides sold in the market may also affect non-target species particularly in water reservoirs.

SUGGESTIONS AND NOVELTIES

n  Recently, we have tested an innovative, silicon-based Larvacide, which does not affect the aqua life. The success ratio in our primary results is 76-92%. The tests were conducted both in lab and field conditions. I believe, if applied correctly, adding this new product to the market will reduce the malaria vectors dramatically.

n  We also applied an innovative IRS (Indoor residual spray) successfully both for individuals and government institutes in Ghana, Africa, with a success rate of over 80%, providing a safe environment from mosquitoes, with duration of 2-3 months.

Today, I believe that the effective utilization of IRS and Lavacides should be the primary focus of the global fight against malaria. I do not rule out the LLIN, yet believe it to be an insufficient solution by itself.  This being said, without changing the way in which we are fighting against Malaria today, the universal goal of public health care cannot be achieved.

“Irrigation is the controlled application of water for agricultural purposes through manmade systems to supply water requirements not satisfied by rainfall. Crop irrigation is vital throughout the world in order to provide the world's ever-growing populations with enough food. Many different irrigation methods are used worldwide, such as: Center-Pivot, Drip, Flood, Furrow, Rotation, Sprinkler, Sub-irrigation, Traveling Gun, Supplemental, and Surface.” (Nevada Division of Water Planning)

***

Is small scale irrigation a solution in Africa?

by Boaz Yagel Ziegelboim

In Africa, most of the cultivated land, half acre to one care in average, belongs to small scale farmers who often perform their agricultural activities by practicing rain-fed agriculture. However, this is not proving to be efficient for various reasons:

·         If there is not enough rain, either the crop is destroyed or it presents very low yields.

·         From the marketing point of view; when all the small scale farmers are basing their crop on anticipated rain season, all the crops are maturing pretty much at the same time and coming to the markets simultaneously.

·         Right after the rain season, the abundance of products in the market inevitably lowers the prices. On the other hand, out of the rain season, the products are scarcer and the prices are unrealistically high. This creates instability in the market.

In some other cases, small scale farmers also use flood irrigation, which I believe, is not a proper way of irrigating the land, except for rice farming, because:

·         It is not measurable.

·         It does not fit the requirements of the vegetation, as there is either too much or too little water.

·         It makes some essential key elements of fertilization unavailable for the plant. It creates unfavorable un-aerobic conditions.

Then, what should be the solution for the small scale farmers of Africa?

            In my view, small scale irrigation is a major part of the solution. It can break the dependence of the farmers on rain; they can perform cycled cultivation, and accordingly increase their revenues on their lands. The farmers can provide their lands with the adequate amount of water, to create better yields with high performance, causing much less stress for the plants.

Furthermore, the farmers can plan to produce crops and supply the market with products when the price on the market is on the high side, which will ultimately increase their profits.

            If this solution is so easy, why have the small scale farmers not been applying small scale irrigation as they should have? Because, there are certain obstacles that need careful consideration:

·         Lack of know-how and awareness.

·         Problems in the acquisition of proper irrigation equipment either because of lack of information, or because of insufficient logistics.

·         High costs of small scale irrigation procedures.

·         In addition to these complications, there is a common knowledge amongst African farmers that they need a source of energy - diesel or electricity – for pumping the necessary water during the small scale irrigation procedures; this energy source is either not available or very expensive to obtain.

All these problems are real, and should be considered. However, to my mind;

there is a solution that might tackle these problems effectively. Within my experiences in Africa, I have come to understand that there is very effective means of irrigation that can be applied in Africa, and already those who are using it are greatly satisfied with the results. My solution is:

·    GRAVITY IRRIGATION, where water is not pumped but flows and is distributed by gravity.

With this method:

n  There is no dependency on energy.

n  It is easy to install and maintain.

n  It is relevantly much cheaper than other modes of irrigation.

By utilizing the Gravity Irrigation, small scale African farmers can solve several of their ongoing problems with regards to cultivation and marketing, and move onto a larger scale in production. 

Upgrading Farmers' Knowledge in Africa

Story: Maxwell Adombila Aklaaare

OVER 100 vegetable and plant farmers have benefited from a day's training programme on pests and diseases control in plants in Accra.

The seminar was organized by the Agriculture Extension Division of British-based company, Dizengoff Ghana Limited (DWA), to upgrade the knowledge of the farmers on the various diseases and pests their plants are exposed to, and to counsel them on how to cure or control them from spreading.

It also served as a platform for the farmers to share ideas relating to their profession and get first-hand information on the various agric-related products and services offered by DWA.

The participants were drawn from the Greater Accra, Central and Volta Regions. 

"The idea is to collaborate and impart knowledge to the farmer, be it big or small. We believe that sharing of knowledge is vital to pushing Ghana's agricultural sector forward," the Commercial Manager of DWA's Agriculture Division, Agronomist Mr. Boaz Yagel Ziegelboim, said after the seminar.

DWA is an integrated products, projects and services provider to the agriculture, communication and electro-mechanic sectors in West Africa and has been operating in the country since the late 1950s.

Its services and products to the agric sector, like the others, are encompassing and include irrigation accessories, agro-chemicals, and fertilizers and mechanized farming equipment. “If Ghana wants to develop her agric sector, then irrigation is the way to go," Mr. Ziegelboim noted, pointing to the unreliability of the rain and its impact on agriculture output.

He was optimistic that the farmers will put into use what they learnt to help improve their yields and income, and further stated that the most significant key to successful farming in Ghana is knowledge of modern agriculture. “And this is exactly what DWA aims to do,” he said, “to share this knowledge with Ghanaian farmers and business owners in the sector.”

Some of the farmers also requested that the seminar be replicated in other regions to enable their colleagues to benefit, a request with which Mr. Ziegelboim agreed. He further suggested that those interested FBOs and farmers should approach the DWA management and it will be arranged. He added: "Every agronomist with us is supposed to organize about two to three field seminars a month for farmers; in fact, this has been going on for years. We are now hoping that seminars like this will help augment other seminars and we will do our best to let more farmers benefit,"

The General Manager of the DWA's Agriculture Division, Mr. Yoav Hochberg, and the company's Chief Agronomist, Mr. L.O. Opare, thanked the farmers for coming, and challenged them to put into use the knowledge gained.

Pest Control

Story: Maxwell Adombila Akalaare

DIZENGOFF Ghana Limited (DWA) offered a public health training seminar to hotel managers, maintenance directors and the leading staff of some other hospitality service providers in Accra on the various mechanisms required to control pests in their buildings and apartments. The seminar also focused in some innovative methods for the fight against malaria.

The training exposed the participants, who included members of the registered pest controllers association, to the right chemicals needed to control pests in residential and office apartments.

About 100 people participated in the training, which focused on the safety precautions in spraying, the right chemical identification, and the minimisation of the impact of the chemicals on human lives and the environment while spraying.

The Commercial Manager of DWA’s Agriculture Division, Mr Boaz Yagel Ziegelboim, told the Daily Graphic after the training, that it was a part of Dizengoff’s commitment to introducing safer and modern techniques of pest and disease control to the Ghanaian public. While noting that most pest and disease vectors, like mosquitoes, can be controlled “easily through effective spraying,” Mr Ziegelboim said that people needed to be more careful with the chemicals used, given the health implications. 

“We’ve realised that most fumigations are not done with the right chemicals, and that is a concern for us... If people use the wrong chemicals, human lives and property will definitely be at stake,” he said, explaining that such happenings motivated the company to share its expertise with people in the industry.

The Coordinator of Public Health at DWA, Ms. Magdalene Akposoe, advised public and private institutions to always go for recognised fumigators given the increasing number of people parading as such. “There are a lot of people who carry knapsack sprayers around, claiming to be pest controllers. Yet, the sources of their chemicals are not known... Most of them also don’t have the relevant expertise for the job and therefore, using their services can be damaging at times,” she said. She added that DWA’s spraying team is always willing to assist people in need, and she further called on those interested in services not to hesitate in contacting them for help.

Mr. Ziegelboim’s explained that DWA has, over the years, accumulated expertise and developed products and services for the country’s public health sector. Such products – most of which are targeted at vectors, pests, insects and other organisms in homes and offices – are patronised countrywide due to their effectiveness. One such product is the Trigger, an insecticide that controls mosquitoes and vectors in homes and other apartments and can last for about two to three months once sprayed.

“We know that malaria is a big problem in Ghana especially for children; hence the introduction of the Trigger to compliment other methods is significant,” DWA’s Commercial Manager Mr. Ziegelboim added. He thus called on the public institutions to collaborate with DWA’s advice to help fumigate their surroundings to curb diseases, particularly for mosquitos.

                                        

Maxwell Adombila Akalaare

Business and Financial Journalist

Graphic Communications Group Limited

Why Agriculture?

Agriculture has always been the key to the basis of human civilization. Its history dates back thousands of years, and has come to define the establishment of the human culture on earth. Farming and husbandry rely on climates, geographic locations and cultures. They are also the primer elements of our very existence, since if there were no proper food to eat, there would not be LIFE. During the last century, plant breeding, pesticides and fertilizers (agrochemicals) and technological improvements, which constitute modern agronomy, have sharply increased yields from cultivation. In the developed world today, industrial agriculture, supported by various technologies, is largely based on modern farming, with a growing support for sustainable agriculture such as organic farming.