Agrochemical distributors enhance skills in pesticides handling |12 September 2007
Funded by the European Union and facilitated by the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the
Participating agrochemical distributors, mostly agriculture officials from requisite stores across the country, should at the end of the training become more knowledgeable on issues related to the safe handling, transportation, storage, clean-up and disposal of pesticides, as well as health and environment related matters and first aid in case of pesticide poisoning.
According to the coordinator for regional plant protection projects here, Will Dogley, they should also be in a better position to instruct pesticides users and other buyers on how to better handle and use pesticides for maximum results from their agricultural activities.
The workshop is being conducted by an international firm, Croplife International, a reputed agrochemical association of distributors worldwide which has been mandated by IOC to carry out the training in member countries of the Commission on its behalf. Croplife’s representative, Mauritian Serge l’Ecluse, is directing the workshop which is taking place in various agricultural locations across Mahe.
Noting that all participating members in the training already had prior knowledge in the field, Mr Dogley said that they will be awarded with a certificate of competency after attending this particular training.
“They are due to become more proficient at what they do after attending this level of training,” Mr Dogley said, adding that the workshop will bring the store requisite officers “abreast of new developments related to pesticide usage in the growing of crops”.
Mr Dogley remarked that since all local distributors of agrochemical products work for the department of agriculture and have received prior training in this aspect from the division jointly with the Pesticide Board, a rare number of incidents related to misuse or mishandling of agrochemical products have so far been recorded in the country.
He however noted that because of a scarcity of some pesticides, farmers are taking it upon themselves to either import or smuggle some of the products into the country, which they are in turn misusing because of a lack of information.
He also talked of some pesticides being used incorrectly, such as to kill stray animals for example, which has led the department of agriculture and the Pesticide Board to stop distributing highly toxic agrochemical products for the moment.