…says vital to human health, export competitiveness
THE Ministry of Agriculture Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Board yesterday held a sensitisation field day and training in the safe use of pesticides in agriculture at the Mahaica Farmers’ Committee Building, Little Biaboo, Mahaica.
At the event, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud underscored the vital importance of proper management of chemicals used for human well-being and to be able to export agricultural produce.
Speaking before the Minister, Dr. Leslie Munroe, Chairman of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board, and Trecia David, also of the entity, gave an overview of the dangers of chemical and their safe use. They also gave an overview of the Fluorescent Tracer Kit Technology and its use in detecting pesticide contamination.
Speaking at the event, Minister Persaud said the activity was part of the thrust of the Ministry of Agriculture to sensitise farmers and give them the tools to properly handle toxic chemicals and effectively carry out pesticides use and management.
He said sometimes when the Pesticides and Toxic Chemical Control Board carries out its work, farmers and suppliers would call the Minister asking why it was that he insists that they be trained and why the heightened awareness.
“They ask these questions because since time immemorial man has been accustomed to using pesticides and toxic chemicals without any level of serious management and control,” he said.
He said in the first instance, “We are very concerned about the health and well-being of our farmers and the population at large.”
He said there are some 700 different types of pesticides that are used for domestic and agriculture purposes, and of those, 200 are considered to be very hazardous and dangerous to human health and well-being. “In recognising that, we have taken the steps to ensure that the chemicals and the pesticides and the fertilisers that come into the country do not fall into the category of creating danger to the well-being of our citizens, of our children, of our farmers, or anyone else,” he said.
He said that if the Ministry does not sensitise persons to the dangers of the chemicals if not properly managed, then the Ministry will be culpable of endangering the lives of the persons handling the chemicals. He said sometimes the consequences of exposure to the chemicals are not immediately felt. The Minister said some of the dangers of the chemicals are cancer, infertility and children that are not fully developed.
Further, he said Guyana is an exporter of food, “and increasingly the export market is interested in what is called traceability. They are interested in knowing what it is we applied to the particular crop, what it is we are giving the livestock, what it is we are giving the aquaculture products. And if we cannot provide that information, and if we cannot show them that in fact what we are using is safe for human consumption, they will not buy our produce.”
He said that the future and the well-being of the farmers “depends on us ensuring that we have a system or a regime in place whereby we can manage [pest control].”
At the end of the speeches, there was a practical demonstration in the safe use of chemicals and the use of the Fluorescent Tracer Kit. In attendance were farmers and other residents from Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary.