Pesticides and Pesticide Poisoning in the Andes

Many farmers in Peru are unaware of the dangers of pesticides on their own health and continue to use hazardous pesticides such as organophosphates and carbamates without wearing extensive protection, according to a study that resulted from the project, Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) Pesticides in Andean Farming Communities in Peru, financed by the Canadian POPs Fund through the World Bank, Washington DC and executed by the International Potato Center (ICP). On average, 25% of the farmers interviewed in the hotspots have suffered severe poisoning from using pesticides.

The problem of pesticide poisoning can be minimized through integrated pest management (IPM) that includes cultivation of resistant varieties deriving from modern biotechnology. The main objective of IPM is to reduce the excessive use of pesticides to achieve a more sustainable agriculture. However, only a few farmers in Peru have adopted IPM as a practice on their farms.

The complete press release can be read at http://www.cipotato.org/pressroom/press_releases_detail.asp?cod=30.