Yemen returns 195 tons of illegal pesticides to their countries of origin

(Saba)-Yemen has returned 195 tons of pesticides during the first half of this year. These quantities of pesticides were prohibited and entered the country illegally.

Director of Plant Protection at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Abdullah Al-Sayani said that these pesticides were been stopped and accumulated at the border then returned to the where they were exported from.

The pesticides were returned to the countries they were produced because they entered the country illegally and some of them are prohibited, he said.» The pesticides came from China, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.»

He indicated that the Protection of Plant General Directorate in cooperation with custom authority has been able to return five trucks containing 86 tons of illegal pesticides from Hudiedah Port.

Al-Sayani revealed that the ministry of agriculture is carrying out campaigns to reduce the importation of pesticides to the country as they are dangerous to human health and harmful to the environment. During the first half of this year, the ministry has carried out 11 campaigns to inspect stores selling pesticides in Sana›a, Taiz, Ibb, Hudeidah, Dhamar and Al-Baidha›a.

These campaigns resulted in the closure of 61 stores that violated pesticides law out of the 139 inspected stores in targeted governorates. According to Al-Sayanni, 4.5 tons of pesticides were confiscated during the campaign and kept in the ministry›s store houses. After examination, the pesticides were intended to get rid of plant epidemics.

About the measures taken by the ministry against violators, Al-Sayani said that 101 violation reports were made and submitted to the prosecution. However, the ministry has granted three new licenses to import pesticides and renewed 14 others to importers in several governorates after making sure that they fit the law.

However he said that it is difficult to get rid of these pesticides by burning as this process would cause an environment catastrophe. At the same time, getting rid of them through specialized companies will cost the country USD 10 per  litre.

He also admitted that they cannot stop all illegal pesticides coming to the country as smuggling operation are very developed on the vast ground border between Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Oman. «Pesticides smuggling is active like medicine smuggling,» he affirmed.

On the other hand, a report issued by the ministry recently on pesticides used in Yemen mentioned that the ministry of agriculture and irrigation carried out a program measuring the traces of pesticides in agricultural products.

According to the report, a specialized team with portable appliances has made 24 field visits to central markets selling vegetables, fruits and qat in a number of governorates to find traces of the illegal pesticides.

According to Al-Sayani, the results showed that there are varying levels of the pesticides in the products, noting that qat levels marked the highest.

To study the effects of pesticides on products and identifying the type of the pesticide and its dangers, the inistry of agriculture and irrigation launched a specialized central laboratory in Sana›a.

The laboratory will help the ministry identify  traces of pesticides in crops as it is considered the most effective, modern and accurate means of controlling the pesticides.

According to Al-Sayani, the General Directorate for Plant Protection has started evaluating pesticides existing in the country after opening the laboratory.

According to Al-Sayani, Yemen imports nearly 360 tons of legal pesticides every year, though figure reduced by 500 tons in 2006. He said Yemen is still among the countries which imports limited quantities of pesticides for agricultural production. He argued that to improve the production, the country still needs between 1500-2000 tons every year.

Two years ago, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation circulated a list banning the importation of 349 types of pesticides to Yemen. The list angered pesticides merchants who described it as abusive measure against their trade.

They directed a message to the president of the republic to interfere in the case and direct the ministry of agriculture to allow them to import these types of pesticides they described as economically profitable.

However, media reports say that there are 373 types of prohibited pesticides in Yemen and there are 700 kinds of chemicals, toxic items and pesticides used in agriculture, particularly for the quick production of qat. According to estimations of officials in the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, 80 percent of pesticides are used for qat production.

Specialized doctors say these chemicals are the main reasons behind the spread of cancer in Yemen.

Related Content

•   Female genital circumcision still on the rise in Yemen
•  Jews in land of nightingales
•   Alcohol sells from hidden points in Yemen
•  IRIN: Fighting in north Yemen leads to fresh displacements
•  Yemen President’s visit to the United States has other purposes than medical treatment
•  YEMEN: Little hope of swift return for Abyan IDPs, says report
•   African refugees to Yemen surpass expectation, says UN report
•   Al- Hujrain, Yemen’s treasure trove
•  Campaign in Yemeni to revolt against Qat
•   IRIN: Yemen coping with unrest - aid workers turn to the community