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A farmer sprays a pesticide on her maize field.
Those attending the colloquium on pesticides in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape have called for stronger structures to manage pesticides.
The gathering is discussing a regulatory policy framework for pesticides.
The Agriculture Department’s Director-General, Mooketsa Ramasodi, says existing control structures need to be strengthened.
“Basically, what we doing is we are looking what are the policy gaps are there in the South African pesticides management and we have identified quite a few at this moment. We have identified the interface that we have. Three spheres: There’s human health, there’s plant health, and also in terms of environmental health,” says Ramasodi.
Representatives from civil society, farm workers, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and pesticides manufacturers are among the stakeholders, who took part in the 2-day gathering.
Issues around the control measures of pesticides were part of the discussions over the past two days.
Participants say control measures must be incorporated into the regulatory framework.
Pesticide Management is a crucial part of public health and environmental safety.
It entails the safe handling, application, storage and disposal of pesticides in a sound and responsible manner.
Ramasodi says the existing control structures in managing pesticides need to be strengthened.
