20000327

Body to collect

expired pesticides

from dealers

RECORDER REPORT

HYDERABAD: A joint committee of Agriculture Extension Department and Pakistan Agricultural Pesticides Association has been constituted to suggest steps for expeditious collection of expired pesticides from dealers as well as from warehouse to dispose of or incinerate them with a view to preventing adulteration and environmental hazard.

The decision to this effect was taken a meeting held here on Saturday under the chairmanship of the Provincial Secretary Food, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Munawar Opel. The meeting discussed strategy for pesticides quality control and awareness programme for the year 2000.

The meeting was attended by the Director General Agriculture Extension Sindh, Aftab Ahmed Soomro, Chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Pesticides Association (PAPA), Asif Mohammad Khan, officials concerned and representatives of the Papa-member pesticides companies.

The committee will also suggest measures to improve the efficacy and accuracy of pesticides testing laboratories so that proper results in respect of substandard and adulterated pesticides is obtained. The meeting was informed that during the year 1999, as many as 1760 samples of pesticides were drawn of which 53 were found substandard.

It was decided that Papa will provide neutral empty bottles to dealers for sampling purpose so that the sampling is done in clear manner, ensuring accurate results.

The meeting was informed that to guide farmers on proper application of pesticides in the new cotton crop, a system of pest scouting and pest warning was being introduced by the Agriculture Extension Department.

It was decided that Papa members and extension experts will exchange information on pest scouting so that cotton farmers are correctly advised and unnecessary use of pesticides is prevented.

It was further decided that a train-the-trainers programme will be organised at district level with the cooperation of Papa in 13 districts during the months of April and May, wherein extension officers will be imparted refresher training on identification, scouting, and control of pests, insects and diseases of cotton, paddy and sugarcane crops as well on correct use and maintenance of spraying machines.

The extension officers will be supplied pest scouting kits, fillup charts and other training material. The trained officers will be turn train the field extensions workers and farmers of their areas.

Similarly, farmers training programmes will be organised jointly by agriculture extension wing and Papa members in so that maximum numbers of farmers are covered.

It was decided that the TV documentary-cum-drama on cotton crop, "Soni Dharti Chandi Gul, Jani German and Cotton" will be produced and telecast this year also with the cooperation of Papa members with the object of creating more awareness among farmers about better cotton farming techniques and correct application of pesticides.