The Project “Demonstrating and Scaling-up Sustainable Alternatives to DDT and other Toxic Chemicals
and Strengthening National Integrated Pest and Vector Management (IPVM) Capabilities in Asia” is a
collaboration between the Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research (Bioforsk)
and Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Environment in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam in close
liaison with the World Health Organisation (WHO); the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP);
and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).
The Project is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Bioforsk and covers an 30-
month period (April 2007-September 2009). Bioforsk coordinates activities on IPVM Needs Assessments
in the three project countries. The aim of the project is to lay the foundation for establishing and
demonstrating an integrated, intersectoral approach for controlling agricultural pests and disease
vectors (i.e. IPVM). The project outcome is to complete a funding application in interaction with
national partners, WHO, UNEP, and FAO. The application will be submitted to the Global Environment
Facility (GEF) and other donors to support a 5-year initiative to demonstrate and scale up sustainable
alternatives to DDT, including IPVM, and to strengthen national vector control capabilities in Southeast
Asia and the Pacific. Target groups are farmers, women, children and consumers; national and local
governments; local environmental groups, NGO’s, village associations, traders, scientists and students.
The main concept of the project is that agricultural pests and vector-borne diseases often occur around
the same areas. In such areas, intensive agricultural pesticide use may negatively affect vector control
programs by increasing the potential for vector resistance development and reducing populations of
beneficial natural enemies. This may lead to more frequent use of insecticides for vector control, and
to greater use or even re-introduction of persistent, cheap POPs insecticides such as DDT. Furthermore,
the project aims to develop and test integrated intersectoral approaches to control both agricultural
pests and disease vectors.
This report is a result of activities conducted within the framework of the project.