Availability of illegal pesticides “reduced”

Jan 03, 2013 News

The availability of illegal pesticides on the market has declined by one percent. This is according to the end of year report issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Some of the illegal pesticides that were seized during past raids by authorities.

“Enforcement activities were carried out specifically under the Board’s “Zero Tolerance against Illegal Pesticides Campaign” and this was done in collaboration with the Customs and Trade Administration and the Guyana Police Force,” the report stated.
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy continues to warn persons, particularly farmers, against purchasing pesticides and other toxic chemicals from unlicenced distributors.
Ramsammy explained to reporters that farmers who have suffered damage caused by the use of substandard chemicals bought from unlicenced distributors, cannot and will not be entitled to any form of representation or compensation from the Agriculture Ministry.
He advised persons to be on the safe side and ensure that they ask vendors to view their licence for selling and importing these toxic chemicals.
The issuing of these licences was done under the arm of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) of the Ministry of Agriculture – Inspection and Enforcement Unit. Its aim is to strengthen numerous chemical management instruments in Guyana so as to ensure safe use of chemicals in the food production chain.
The Board has worked closely with all importers of pesticides and toxic chemicals last year, issuing 1587 licences for imports. Licencing is carried out so as to gather all relevant information on chemicals such as quantities, names, types, target pest and use patterns of these chemicals. There are now 154 vending sites for pesticides.
“The Board has the mandate to ensure that only safe chemicals are imported, sold, and used in Guyana. It also helps to monitor food for pesticide residues,” the Agriculture Ministry’s year-end report stated.
The report went on to establish that only registered products are imported and used here in Guyana. The registration process, it explained, helps to ensure that products imported are not banned or severely hazardous pesticides, especially since pesticides are poisons and pose a severe threat to human health. It is therefore imperative for these to be screened at the highest level before they are used in crop production here.
In carrying out this mandate, the Ministry executed public awareness as well as training countrywide. This is to ensure that food producers adhere to the use of legally registered pesticides.
In 2012, a total of 1470 farmers have been trained in various agriculture communities. This training is key in helping farmers become aware of the legal and illegal products, as well as dose rates, and how to protect themselves and the environment.
The training was also conducted in schools in the form of a competition.
Nonetheless, the Ministry continues to confiscate unregistered chemicals from unregistered locations. And, as part of its efforts to equip agricultural food producers in Guyana, the Board also distributed measuring utensils, information booklets, gloves, and respirators to all participants, free of cost.