Agriculture ministry spearheads training in pesticides
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Contact: Julita Peter
Wednesday, September 27, 2010 – The Ministry of Agriculture in its observance of Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Awareness Week is spearheading training and public education in the safe use, handling and disposal of pesticides and toxic chemicals.
Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Ezechiel Joseph says, for his ministry training in all aspects of chemical management continues to be a priority.
“Training programmes conducted target agricultural officers, health care personnel, teachers and students, farmers and farm workers, input suppliers, and pesticide operators and handlers.” “We also hope to promote compliance with instructions for the proper use, proper labelling of pesticides [including packaging and repackaging] and availability and proper use of pesticide application equipment and protective clothing. The ministry is collaborating closely with other agencies in managing its stock of obsolete pesticides. An island-wide survey conducted with the assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN/FAO) revealed that there are approximately seven (7) metric tonnes of various obsolete and unwanted pesticides and toxic chemicals in Saint Lucia for disposal.”
A joint survey conducted by the Physical Planning Section of the Ministry of Physical Development and the Environment along with the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board, revealed that there are no suitable locations in Saint Lucia for the disposal of those obsolete pesticides and chemicals. It was then recognized that the best option available for the protection of Saint Lucia’s environment was the export for disposal, of all obsolete pesticides and waste chemicals.
The Food and Agriculture Organization is assisting Saint Lucia and other small islands in the disposal of their existing stock piles of obsolete pesticides. According to Minister Joseph, government is playing its part.
“The Government of Saint Lucia also recognizes the importance of obsolete pesticides and has approved for the financial year, 2010 to 2011 a new initiative dealing with disposal of obsolete pesticides and waste chemicals found in the country. In undertaking that initiative, the ministry has engaged the services of a Canadian company with a view to transporting the obsolete pesticides and chemicals to a suitable waste disposal facility overseas.” Mr. Joseph noted that everyone has a role to play in the elimination of obsolete pesticides, and to assist in improving the management of pesticides and toxic chemicals for a safer Caribbean environment.
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