GOVT, WB SIGN AGREEMENT ON OBSOLETE PESTICIDES DISPOSAL

Experts from the government, non-governmental organizations and the World Bank (WB) yesterday met in Dar es Salaam to draw up a work plan for a countrywide programme designed to eliminate obsolete and harmful pesticides accumulated in different parts of the country.

An agreement to that effect has already been signed between the World Bank and the government, and the actual elimination processes of obsolete pesticides, which are harmful to human lives and environment, may start soon.

`As I am talking to you, the World Bank and government, have signed the agreement already?some of the project activities are going on,`Boniventure Baya, Project Manager said in an exclusive interview yesterday.

Experts met yesterday to deliberate the work plan for the programme and modalities of programme implementation.

The WB, Global Environmental Facility (GEF), are key financiers of the project, Baya said adding that a number of donors had shown interest to finance the project.

Previous surveys have shown that huge amounts of obsolete pesticides were accumulated in some parts of Dar es Salaam-Vingunguti and Vikuge areas, and upcountry?Kibaha, Babati, Korogwe Districts, Kilimanjaro.

But there were a possibility that more stocks of obsolete pesticides may be found in other places in the country.

`Obsolete pesticides are available across the country, but there are different levels of stocks from one region to another. Latest data indicate that pesticides have been identified in 350 areas in the country,` according to Project Manager.

Silvan Mnga`anya, Coordinator of NGOs Network, one of the project partners, told The Guardian:`The identified pesticides are based on the 1998 inventory. But there is a need amongst actors and experts of reviewing the inventory and come up with accurate data before we start the project.`

The programme is being implemented within the broader context of the African Stockpiles Programme (ASP) that involves seven African countries.

Some environmental experts interviewed said the ASP was officially launched in South Africa last year, but each individual country had set different dates to launch the programme at the national level.

Once the project becomes operational, obsolete and harmful pesticides would be removed from domestic stocks in Tanzania and other project countries, to Europe for incineration.

`Burning such pesticides is a costly undertaking?it needs special and advanced technologies. That`s why we are forced to take them to Europe,` Haji Reheni, AGENDA Programme Officer said.

Local experts are still uncertain on the specific European countries that the pesticides would be taken for burning.

Reports show that Italy and German are some of the European countries with special latest technologies to perform the task.

`Where the items would be taken is something that is yet to be decided. But it will mostly depend on the outcome of the bidding process aimed to secure competent consultants from different countries.

Actually, it`s not possible to say the specific European countries,` the Project Manager said.

Basically, obsolete pesticides pose a threat to animal and human lives, and the environment, if left unchecked, according to experts.

Sources said the government had taken initiatives to preserve the pesticides in protected stores, but lacked finances and appropriate technology to dispose them.

SOURCE: Guardian