Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud yesterday underscored the importance of pesticide control in advancing the agriculture sector in the region.
Addressing the 14th Meeting of the Coordinating Group of Pesticide Control Board of the Caribbean, Persaud urged those gathered to “examine new and emerging threats so as to provide suggestions for improvement in the way pesticides are used in our countries”. He also urged the group to “take cognizance of the complexity surrounding the use and management of pesticides and craft a work that will take pesticides management to the next level in our countries.” He said that the plan had to realistic, which would lead to the “attainment of short, medium and long-term objectives.”
This, he said, needed to be clear and definitive with the relevant benchmarks that will be adopted by the agriculture sector within the different countries.
The minister also opined that the issue of residual limits could be avoided and consequently said that farmers must understand how they can achieve the best out of pesticides application without having adverse effects on the health of the region’s people. He said that participants must examine the quality of the food produced and the standards of residues.
He said all must be aware of what needed to be done to improve and meet standards which are requirement for international and regional trade.
Persaud stated that for food exporting countries such as Guyana, the requirements needed to be in such a way that products can enter the different markets within the region.
He said “we must do away with every territory putting in place its own set of requirements, thus serving as a barrier to regional trade of regionally produced agricultural commodities and food.”
The minister pointed out that pesticides are relevant for food control and food safety. He said that “excessive and improper use, however, have a negative impact on human, animal and plant health as well as the environment.”
Persaud also urged that the issue of “obsolete and expired pesticides” be addressed and called for the “utilization of management practices to prevent any re-occurrence.” He also identified areas such as “food authenticity, pesticide safety, monitoring of residues in food, proficiency testing schemes, the impact of food production and agricultural systems on the environment, as among those which needed to be addressed. Other key areas identified by him, includes “alternative crops, animal health, the control of pests and diseases in crops, and conservation and wildlife management.”
Meanwhile according to him, the government in Guyana has put the necessary infrastructure in place for the management of pesticides and toxic chemicals. The minister explained that this was done not only because Guyana is a net exporter of food but also to ensure the safety of Guyanese citizens and the environment.
The meeting continues over the next four days and will conclude on Friday.
