Africa-Press – Mauritius. At the opening of a one-day awareness workshop on pesticides, today at the Caudan Arts Centre in Port Louis, the Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Dr Arvin Boolell, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to controlling and reducing pesticide use in light of its impact on human health and the environment.
Organised by the parent Ministry in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the workshop aims to raise awareness among key stakeholders including farmers, users of pesticides, extension officers, importers and distributors, and regulatory authorities on the responsible management of pesticides from importation and distribution to use and disposal.
Dr Boolell recalled that while pesticides are intended to protect crops, they can act much like drugs in the environment—creating dependency for pest control while posing serious risks when misused. Overuse or improper application, he warned, can lead to grave public health hazards, including heightened cancer risks, and contribute to the degradation of ecosystems.
The Minister stressed the importance of acting reasonably, and decried that intensive spraying is “turning fields into killing fields,” and called on NGOs, scientific officers, farmers, importers and distributors, as well as Government agencies, to unite in a collective “war” against excessive and unsafe pesticide and herbicide use. Emphasising the need for greater field engagement, Dr Boolell urged officers to be present on the ground to educate stakeholders on proper practices and promote the transition toward sustainable agriculture.
Also present, Junior Minister Mr Fabrice David, highlighted the crucial link between sustainable development in the agro-industry sector and the quality of the food that ultimately reaches consumers’ plates, adding that this quality is determined by the decisions made in the fields.
He underscored the importance of the “Implementing Sustainable Low and Non-Chemical Development in SIDS (ISLANDS) Programme,” a regional initiative focused on the proper use and management of pesticides. The programme is being implemented across 30 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific. The Union of Comoros, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles form part of the Indian Ocean component.
The UNDP Resident Representative for Mauritius and Seychelles, Ms Alka Bhatia, outlined the objectives of the UNDP-GEF ISLANDS project, which include preventing the future influx of materials and chemicals containing Persistant Organic Pollutants, mercury and other hazardous substances; ensuring the safe management and disposal of harmful chemicals already present; and securing the safe handling of products entering SIDS by establishing closed-loop systems.
As for Dr Preeaduth Sookur, Officer in Charge of the Crop and Agri-Food Sector within Agricultural Services, he highlighted the critical need to safeguard public health, reminding participants that the improper use of pesticides can have serious consequences for both human well-being and biodiversity.
On that occasion, five video spots for awareness were launched.
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