New pests and diseases can devastate agriculture sector – Minister Persaud

Jun 24, 2009 News

By Tusika Martin

Not only is the region suffering from the negative impacts resulting from the changing and abnormal weather patterns, but the possibilities of new pests and diseases emerging with the capacity to devastate crops and livestock are real.
This is according to Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, who addressed the opening ceremony of the 14th Meeting of Coordinating Group of Pesticides Control Boards of the Caribbean, on Monday at the Princess Buddy’s Hotel.
He told the gathering, which consisted of representatives from the ACP countries in the region, that the agriculture sector in the region faces many challenges.
These are well-known, he noted, and must be faced head-on if the region is to make the required strides and realize the sector’s potential.
Foremost amongst these is the effects of climate change on our agriculture production system, he said.
Minister Persaud encouraged the participants in their deliberations to look not only at the existing situation but to examine new and emerging threats so as to provide suggestions for improvement in the way pesticides are used in the region countries.
“Pesticide is one of the methods used for the integrated management of pests. Pesticides are relevant for food control and food safety. Excessive and improper use, however, has a negative impact on human, animal and plant health as well as the environment.”
The improper use sends up the cost of production, Minister Persaud said, while noting that it also endangers the export of agricultural products and affects trade negatively.
“I would like to throw out a challenge to the meeting, here in Guyana, since we are the lead country in CARICOM, to take cognizance of the complexity surrounding the use and management of pesticides and craft a work plan that will take pesticides management to the next level in our countries.”
This, he said, must be a realistic plan which the participants must feel satisfied with and lead to the attainment of short, medium and long term objectives. Importantly, these objectives must be clear and definitive with the relevant benchmarks that will be adopted by the agriculture sector in the respective countries, Persaud added.
The conference, he said, must also address the issue of ‘obsolete and expired’ pesticides and the utilisation of management practices to prevent any reoccurrence.
“The issue of residual limits cannot be avoided so that our farmers must understand how they can achieve the best out of pesticides application without having adverse effects on the health of our people.’
He also urged participants must examine the quality of the food produced and the standards of residues.
And for food exporting countries such as Guyana, the requirements must be such that the products can enter the different markets in the region.
“We must do away with every territory putting in place its own set of requirements thus serving as a barrier to regional trade of regionally produced agricultural commodities and food.”
To earn the recognition of the Caribbean Community machinery, he urged the participants that they must then be seen and recognized as a body that delivers in pest and pesticides management.
“There is now little tolerance for groups and agencies which do not produce results.”
Some key work areas, he explained, should include food authenticity, pesticide safety, monitoring of residues in food, proficiency testing schemes, the impact of food production and agricultural systems on the environment, alternative crops, animal health, the control of pests and diseases in crops, and conservation and wildlife management.
He said that it is hoped that the deliberations of the conference will be fruitful and will contribute directly and indirectly to the region’s quest to transform the agriculture sector and reduce its dependency on imported extra-regional food.
Among the countries that are represented at the conference are St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and Jamaica.
The five day meeting, which will conclude on Friday, is being held under the theme “Improving Pesticides Management in the Caribbean through Public Awareness and Effective Implementation Strategies.”

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