Agro-chemical importer calls for education on obsolete pesticides disposal

Mr William Kotey, President of Croplife Ghana, major importers of agro-chemical products, has indicated the need for farmers and extension officers to be educated on the dangers of obsolete pesticides on the environment.

He said the hazards of such products on anyone who comes into contact with it could be devastating.

Mr Kottey said this at a workshop on Cleanfarms Project, organised by the organisation in Accra at the weekend to sensitize the public on the proper recycling of empty pesticide containers.

The project started with the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2009 with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), has been able to gather more than 170 metric tonnes of outdated pesticides including its empty containers.

“The materials were collected from mostly stores of agro- chemical companies, (Cocoa Board) and cocoa inputs. These materials are safely safeguarded and stored at a temporary storage facility, he said.

Mr Kottey noted that $400, 000 had been spent on the project.

Mrs Felicia Ansah-Amprofi, Deputy Director of Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate of MOFA said the project had been of immense benefit to the agro-chemical industry.

Source: GNA