PROJECT ASSESSMENTS - Science for Agriculture and Rural Development in Low-income Countries - page 149

B) Project objectives
1) What were the initial project objectives?
The overall objective of the MAMAS project was to develop tools and techniques to
be integrated into a risk assessment model for the use of agrochemicals in aquatic
systems in Asian countries. Specifically, the project aimed to identify realistic
worst-case scenarios & impacts through a situation appraisal and preliminary risk
assessment. Batteries of simple, low cost and environmentally relevant diagnostic
bioassays have been developed. Local researchers have also been trained in the use
of these techniques, and protocols disseminated in local languages. Land man-
agement practices have been monitored, and bioassays deployed in field sites to
investigate the applicability of fate and effects models. Pesticide residue sampling
has also been conducted. Monitoring data is used to develop a decision support
system (DSS) for the evaluation of local risks and possible mitigation methods.
Policy guidelines for sustainable management of agro-ecosystems in the region will
be developed through a participatory approach.
2) Have there been any (major) changes to these objectives and for what reason?
No
C) Project activities
1) Which activities were employed to meet the objectives?
Year 1 Data collected from the situation appraisal (Work package 1) undertaken in
year 1, was reported back to primary and secondary stakeholders through workshops
held in Thailand and Sri Lanka. The State of the System Reports (SOS) for Thailand
and Sri Lanka, can be found on the MAMAS website (www.mamas.org), together
with all other output listed below. These reports were created initially through parti-
cipatory activities with key informants and focus groups as well as household
interviews in selected communities.
This information was then presented to and discussed with key stakeholder groups.
A preliminary risk assessment (PRA) was carried out and published in a report
entitled “Environmental and human risks of pesticide use in Thailand and Sri Lanka:
Results of a preliminary risk assessment”. The preliminary risk assessment aimed to
build on the initial situation analysis by using information on the environmental
characteristics of the study sites, to estimate the potential risks (environmental and
human) through pesticide exposure. Techniques used in European risk assessment of
agrochemicals were applied. Both the environmental and the human health assessment
indicated large potential risks.
Year 2 Environment and land use monitoring (Work packages 5 and 6) was carried
out at sites identified in the PRA in both Thailand and Sri Lanka. This involved
collecting information on hydrological characteristics of the systems of concern,