Pesticide use in agriculture a concern for Gov’t

Government is at present engaged on strategies to help secure meals manufacturing and cut back pesticide use, following considerations over the use of pesticides in the agricultural sector.

Planning and Development Minister Pennelope Beckles made the revelation whereas talking on the launch of a Pesticide Container Management Pilot Project led by the non-profit organisation People for People Foundation (P4P). 

The launch coincided with the observance of Pesticide Week 2022, and was a collaborative effort of a number of companies. The Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Unit, Chemistry Food and Drugs Division, Ministry of Health and a main agro-input provider Southern Chemicals and Agricultural Supplies Limited have been a part of the trouble.

Pesticides, together with substances reminiscent of pesticides and herbicides, are used to destroy organisms deemed to be dangerous to cultivating crops or animals. There is a rising consciousness of the unfavorable results of pesticides on human well being and the surroundings.

Improper pesticide administration practices may result in respiratory tract, eye and pores and skin irritation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, reproductive hurt, seizures and/or demise. Over the years, farmers have been poisoned when making use of pesticides to their crops.

A current survey discovered that 47 per cent of 208 farmers unfold throughout Trinidad and Tobago felt unwell over the previous 12 months, inside 24 hours of pesticide utility.

The survey was performed by Duraisamy Saravanakumar, Professor and Head, Department of Food Production, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, UWI, St Augustine in conjunction with the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Some occupational poisoning can be seen to be pesticide container-related, since improperly cleaned empty containers nonetheless had sufficient residue inside them to be thought of hazardous waste.

There is a hazard that vacant pesticide containers could result in poisoning when reused and people left in the surroundings have the potential to infect soils, and underground water sources with consequential dangers to meals security and in the end the well being of our residents.

Minister Beckles expressed concern at these alarming figures and highlighted the federal government’s help of citizen led initiatives reminiscent of P4P’s Pesticide Container Management Pilot. 

The Planning and Development Minister outlined the function of the Ministry, which has duty for the surroundings, in implementing initiatives to help the trigger.

The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) and The University of the West Indies collaborated on a venture to find out the impacts of chemical primarily based pesticides, fertilisers and fungicides on the aquatic and marine surroundings from farms close to the Caroni Swamp. 

The research discovered some unfavorable results, although not posing any main well being dangers. However, the IMA is working with farmers to chop chemical use in agriculture by 50 to 70 per cent.

The IMA and UWI are additionally selling the use of extra biologically primarily based extracts reminiscent of an natural Seaweed Extract (formulated by the University of the West Indies).

The extract is produced from sargassum seaweed, for utility on vegetable crops, roots, tubers and decorative crops.

It’s meant to be a substitute for chemically primarily based pesticides, fungicides and fertilisers which have been discovered to have a deleterious affect on the pure surroundings.

The seaweed extract was discovered to advertise higher plant progress and yield and enhanced the crops resistance to pest and illness when in comparison with the chemically primarily based compounds.

Another venture in which the Ministry of Planning is concerned is the Global Environment Facility (GEF) ISLANDS Programme (2021 – 2026) – ‘Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in small island developing states (SIDS).

The objective of the Programme is to prevent the build-up of materials and chemicals containing persistent organic pollutants (POPs), mercury, and other harmful chemicals in the environments and to safely manage the disposal of existing harmful chemicals and materials.

Work has also been done to reduce the effects of the improper usage of pesticides on the productivity and longevity of agricultural soils. The Ministry, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation, developed the Biodiversity Conservation and Agro-ecological Land Restoration in Productive Landscapes in Trinidad and Tobago (BIOREACH) Project.

Component 2 of this undertaking seeks to decrease the rate of land degradation and restore and enhance the productive capacity of agricultural landscapes by promoting sustainable practices.

Other recent initiatives in which the Planning Ministry has played an integral role include:

The drafting of requirements for the Labelling of Retail Packages of Pesticides in Trinidad and Tobago;

The implementation of the project Disposal of Obsolete Pesticides including POPs; Promotion of Alternatives; and Strengthening Pesticides Management in the Caribbean (in collaboration with the FAO);

The drafting of a National Quarantine and Pre-Shipment Policy, currently undergoing public consultation through efforts under the Montreal Protocol, the international agreement which seeks to phase out the fumigant methyl bromide, an ozone depleting substance, and properly manage its alternatives.

The goal to reduce the use of deleterious pesticides in our environment supports government’s nationwide strategic objective to put the surroundings on the centre of social and financial growth, whereas working to attain Sustainable Developmental Goal 15, ‘Life on Land’.