Project Background
In September 2006, the Government of Eritrea and FAO initiated a project to inventory all the obsolete pesticides and associated waste. The project is funded by the Governments of Japan and the Netherlands to the tune of USD$660,000, with the objective to develop an environmental mitigation plan for the safeguarding and eventual disposal of the obsolete stocks. The project also includes activities that will help to ensure that further accumulations of obsolete pesticides are avoided.
Inventory and Safeguarding Strategy
The inventory of the country's 297 pesticides stores (Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and private sector) was completed in September 2007, with all the data recorded in OPMS by the end of November 2007. The inventory identified:
500 tonnes of obsolete pesticides
21 sites with soil contamination totaling 1 400 mē
12 200 contaminated empty containers
5 400 contaminated sprayers
The joint team from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Environment completed the Environmental and social Assessment in January 2008, including the development of a safeguarding strategy. This strategy identifies 10 sites that represent such a high risk to both public health and the environment that emergency action should be taken immediately. It also recommends a safeguarding and disposal options for the remaining stores. At the request of the Government of Eritrea, FAO is preparing a project proposal for the emergency safeguarding while liaising with other donors to fund the clean-up of all sites and dispose of the wastes.
Prevention of Accumulation
Following of the national Prevention workshop in May 2007 activities have been undertaken to improve pesticide management and reduce reliance on synthetic chemical pesticides. A review of pest management in the country's citrus groves has identified infestations of Woolly whitefly, Citrus Leaf Miner and Cottony cushion Scale that have all been exacerbated by the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides. A new strategy based on Integrated Pest Management has been developed and is in the process of being introduced by the National Agricultural Research Institute. It plans to introduce natural enemies of the pests and ban the use of non-specific pyrethroid and organophosphorus based pesticides. New legislation on pesticides has been drafted and a communications strategy has been developed to improve knowledge within farming communities and the general public of the dangers of pesticide use. A second workshop was held in January which finalised the national prevention action plan and identified the funding needs for the next steps. The Government and FAO are engaging with Donors to secure these funds.
