Mrs Ivy Saunyama
Celebrating women across the globe helping to prevent deaths from pesticide self-poisoning.Promoting the phase-out of highly hazardous pesticides to protect health and the environment
Name
Mrs Ivy Saunyama
Job role
Agricultural Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), Pest and Pesticide Management Team (NSPCD), Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP)
Location
Zimbabwe
Tell us about your role?
I provide technical support to governments to ensure sustainable agrifood systems and to reduce pesticide risks to the environment and human health, including suicides. This includes the roll out of FAO tools and guidance for governments to strengthen pesticide management and phase out Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs). I also support farmers, especially smallholder farmers, to sustainably produce and protect their crops by adopting biodiversity-friendly practices such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Why is this work important to you?
Women, especially smallholder farmers in low and middle-income countries are very vulnerable to pesticide poisoning, mainly due to their active involvement in agriculture, low literacy levels, cultural factors, and a myriad of socio-economic factors. I am passionate about empowering fellow women, and as an agricultural entomologist and pesticide risk manager, I strive to promote the phasing out of HHPs and the adoption of safer and biodiversity-friendly practices.
As the proverb goes: “if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” I am very committed to addressing HHPs through regional collaboration and have actively supported the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) in these efforts for over 15 years.
This profile has been compiled for International Women’s Day 2025, to celebrate the incredible women worldwide who are helping to prevent deaths from pesticide self-poisoning.