Implementation of the Rotterdam Convention in Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Colombia and El Salvador


With the objectives to strengthen the capacities of countries to monitor and report problems regarding the use of Severely Hazardous Pesticide Formulation (SHPF) and to identify potential substances that could be proposed for Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention, several activities came into force on February, 2013 in four countries of the Latin America Region, specifically in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. In these four countries, actions are being led by the Designated National Authorities in collaboration with FAO Country Offices.

The activities mainly focus on the following topics: Proper and Safe Use of Pesticides, Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Pesticide Poisoning, Proper and Safe Disposal of Pesticides, Alternatives to Endosulfán, Objectives of the Rotterdam Convention, Good Agricultural Practices, among others. Information on all of these topics were taught through Farmers Field Schools (FFS), which were created to focus on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in coffee production, workshops and training provided to stakeholders, surveys, development and publication of different informative documents (posters, banners, environmental law summary, design of protocols), awareness campaigns about pesticides, creation or strengthening of information systems, etc. It is important to note that the project is still running in all four countries and will be completed in April, 2014.

See also a summary of the four countries.

Photo:
Pruning of coffee trees, cultural practice conducted in the Farmer Field School, in where the emphasis is on IPM as an alternative to endosulfan. Cuscatlan, Central, Cordillera Chinchontepec, El Salvador January 31, 2014.

 

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