My speechless intervention and the discovery of a woman leader in agroecology
On a working day of June 2018 under my previous organization, I visited Shibuyunji district to conduct my usual technical support to the extension staff as well as project beneficiaries. Having had a short meeting with the extension staff, we immediately proceeded into the field to conduct on-site visits. I felt enthusiastic that I had an opportunity to be in the field to share knowledge with the extension staff and farmers. On the way, I saw a woman in the field by the roadside spraying chemicals without protective clothing. From the onlook, she had been using chemicals for a number of years considering the way she smoothly handled the sprayer. A sudden urge rose inside me and I quickly asked the driver to stop the vehicle. I climbed out of the vehicle and immediately smelt the toxic chemical being sprayed by the woman. As I was watching her, a number of people passing were looking to see why we had stopped. On the other hand, the woman seemed only interested in getting the whole field sprayed and totally ignored my presence. As I smelt the strong stench of the chemical, I felt like I was the one spraying it! Spraying chemicals without protective clothing is extremely dangerous as some of the chemicals can be inhaled, causing long term effects on a human being. Her field being beside the main road might affect a number of passers-by.