Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud said a National Implementation Plan will be developed incorporating international guidelines to stop the importation and use of illegal chemicals in the sector. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the minister met with stakeholders on forming an Inter-Agency Committee to control the use of harmful chemicals in the agriculture sector as the country takes steps to export more produce.
Discussions centred on eradicating Persistent Organic Pollutants in Guyana through the development of a National Implementation Plan under a Stockholm Convention, the release said. According to Persaud, Guyana is positioning itself as a major exporter of food and as such measures are being implemented to ensure that the country conforms to international standards. In keeping with this, the administration has taken bold steps through the newly established Pesticide, Chemical and Toxic Board to not only position the sector to be a major exporter but also to ensure that what consumers produce and consume meet health standards. “The Board in recent times has been building up its capacity…today our labs can be considered one of the most modern…in recent weeks we have seen some dramatic development in this regard,” Persaud said.
Human aspect
The Board is expected to provide support by listing the chemicals and pesticides allowed into the country. The minister said over a period of time stakeholders have raised concerns about illegal chemicals being smuggled into the country. Some of these chemicals have since been banned as they are considered unsafe for the environment. Persaud also said the Board has since increased its enforcement capacity and has instituted more procedures in tandem with customs; “since it is quite evident also that those who man the entry points need to be guided as to what can or cannot be allowed.”
“We are concerned too about seeing the influx because notwithstanding the best efforts in terms of education and a great degree of moral persuasion we find that some of our farmers are willing to use these illegal chemicals and pesticides. I want to again make an appeal for their own health and the health of consumers too that they stick with the approved list,” he added.
As regard modernising the laboratories, Persaud emphasised the need for more tests to be done as it relates to testing for residue and chemical applications and their effects. This will enhance the Board’s capacity in keeping with the ministry’s Agriculture Diversification Project and its Agricultural Support Services project. “I want to encourage all stakeholders to support the Pesticide Board and their activities. This is necessary if we are going to be certified as being a country and a sector that is fit for export and producing food for the export market. I encourage persons to not see it as a nuisance; but rather as a necessary regime of control and regulations that we have if we are going to advance and move forward in this regard,” he said.
The minister also said government will continue to ensure that international conventions and protocols are adhered to in order to advance the sector. He also used the opportunity to encourage stakeholders to be willing and able to support the initiative. Under the project $82M will be made available over two years in order to undertake the plan.
