Assovert-Chad
Pesti-Bio Training and Dissemination
ASSOVERT-CHAD innovation
Pesti-bio ASSOVERT-CHAD is a non-formal organization that began operations in August 2020 and functions as a civil society organization based in N’Djamena, Chad.
Pesti-bio is a pesticide derived from a blend of chilli peppers and leaves, specifically from neem, papaya, tobacco and chilli plants. This innovative product was discovered in Cameroon during a training session organized by an EU-funded initiative called OCAP. After testing it on his own land for two years, the inventor found it to be effective. Pesti-bio is prepared by grinding the ingredients and mixing them with water.
Assovert-Chad
Pesti-Bio Training and Dissemination
Location: N’Djamena, Chad
ASSOVERT-CHAD is actively working to widely disseminate Pesti-bio and offers training in its production. Participants pay a membership fee that covers 30 percent of costs, while the remaining 70 percent is funded by donors and government support. So far, this initiative has attracted 120 paid members from across Chad. While most pesticides on the market are inorganic, Pesti-bio operates more gradually without harming the soil. Comparisons between Pesti-bio and chemical pesticides indicate that while chemicals act more rapidly, Pesti-bio is more cost-effective and also repels mosquitoes and flies, thus providing protection against diseases.
Funding and future plans
ASSOVERT-CHAD has received a grant of €10,000 (ten thousand euros) from the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) through the Knowledge for Great Green Wall Action (K4GGWA) programme, funded by the European Union. This grant will help implement the next phase of the project, which includes the following initiatives:
- Expanding membership to achieve a goal of 300 members;
- Developing a business plan aimed at achieving medium-term financial stability for ASSOVERT-CHAD;
- Formalizing a protocol for the manufacturing and application of Pesti-bio, to be used by agricultural extension services, ASSOVERT-CHAD technicians and members;
- Establishing a dedicated production unit for the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of Pesti-bio.
