Agrochemicals could harm users-MoA
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday June 10, 2015 15:28
The MoA’s Registrar of Agrochemicals, Loitseng Sebetwane revealed this during the full council meeting at Tonota Sub-District Council when addressing councillors.
Sebetwane said that agrochemicals are pesticides, fungicides, acaricides, herbicides, rodenticides, miticides, nematicides, molluscicides, fertilizers, plant extracts to name a few, and are commonly used in households.
He said that if not used or handled properly, agrochemicals can have a negative impact on human life that can lead to deadly diseases, especially when used in areas where there is poor sanitation.
Sebetwane warned that agrochemnicals are toxic and storing them in bulk may pose significant environmental and health risks, particularly in the event of accidental spills.
He said they could adversely affect non-target organisms such as fish, bees and wildlife within as well as outside the agro ecosystem.
He advised councillors to warn farmers that if not used properly, pesticides and fertilizers can pollute the environment.
Sebetwane explained that agrochemicals enter the human body through the skin, eyes and nose if they inhale them.
He said they affect humans’ reproduction capabilities and cause the effects of cholinesterase inhibitors, respiratory disorders, blindness and birth defects of children.
“These days people complain about how their children grow and this is usually caused by the food that they eat with too much agrochemicals thus promoting improper growth.
“Some children can be born with extra human body parts, “he said. He said that for farmers, the frequent use causes development of pest resistance to pesticides and development of resistant biotypes in the population.
Sebetwane disclosed that the challenges they have identified is poor handling of agrochemicals, use of empty containers for domestic purposes and disposal of obsolete pesticides to name a few that people and farmers need to be sensitised on.
He disclosed that they intend to provide farmers and pesticides dealers with training and collaborate with other law enforcement agents to sensitise them on collection of obsolete pesticides and empty containers.
Sebetwane said that they have realised that illegal immigrants smuggled agrochemicals into Botswana for sale to the public, thus putting their lives in danger.
“One of our interventions is liaison with neighbouring countries to block the sale of unauthorised harmful agrochemicals and treatment of contaminated sites,” he said.
He said that if used properly, agrochemicals are important as they play an important role in human life.
He gave an example that they can be used to protect crops against pests and other diseases.
“They also protect humans against vectors of diseases and promote plant growth, increase in yield, food security and can be used for external parasites in livestock,” said Sebetwane.
Commenting on the presentation, councillors feared for people’s lives, pointing out that farmers were given agrochemicals for free last year without proper training.
Tonota- South East councillor Gaefele Sedombo raised the concern that the majority of farmers did not handle, store and even dispose of the agrochemicals containers correctly.
Sebombo chided the MoA for having not advised farmers to use natural resources initially to eradicate pests and weeds in their farms.
He said the ministry, knowing how dangerous the chemicals could be, should have first trained the farmers before allowing them to use the agrochemicals.