From a press release by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources:
With 45 votes in favor, members of the FMLN, Unidos por El salvador and GANA approved the amendment of a Law on the control of pesticides, fertilizers and products for agricultural use, which allows the prohibition of 53 chemicals in El Salvador.Related: Join the March Against Monsanto on 10/12/13: http://bit.ly/14RN9EV
Among the list of the 53 chemicals are Paraquat, Glyphosate and Endosulfan, which caused controversy among right-wing deputies. Deputy Mario Ponce, of the Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA) party, opposed these substances being on the list, however, he did not have the support of other MPs.
Nery Diaz, deputy of the Frente Farabundo Martà party (FMLN) defended the opinion on the grounds that paraquat is related to an increase in renal diseases.
According to the president of the Association of Coffee Producers (ABECAFE), Carlos Borgonovo, the congressional initiative threatens the quality and quantity of the grain harvest. “At the moment there is no substitute, we would have to order in from an international laboratory,” said Borgonovo referring to the chemical endosulfan. This product is used for controlling the coffee berry borer pest.
In relation to herbicides, both Borgonovo as well as Marcelino Samayoa, director of ABECAFE agree that you cannot depend on labor dedicated to removing weeds. While these chemicals are applied twice a year, removing weeds with a machete requires twice as much effort.
For its part, the National Executive Council (COENA) asked President Mauricio Funes to study the decree banning the use of these 53 pesticides and fertilizers because they are working against the country’s agricultural sector.
“The call is for there to be a lot of research carried out and that prior to sanctioning, vetoing or monitoring them, there be observations of the impact that it will have in the medium and long term, not only in relation to the issue of food security, but also in relation to economics” said Ricardo Esmahán, COENA member.
Sources: http://en.centralamericadata.com/
www.realfarmacy.com
