Pesticide Ban in Senegal

SENEGAL-ENVIRONNEMENT - Interdiction d’une catégorie de pesticides et de produits chimiques
10-11-2008
Dakar, 10 nov (APS) - Le Sénégal a interdit l’importation, la production, l’utilisation, la détention, la vente et la distribution à titre gratuit des pesticides et produits chimiques visés par la convention de Stockholm, annonce un communiqué reçu à l’APS.L’arrêté ministériel, pris jeudi dernier, indique que les pesticides aldrine, chlordane, dieldrine, endredrine, heptacholore, mirex, toxaphène, ddt et les produits chimiques hexachlorobenzène (HCB) et polychlorobiphényles (PCB) sont visés, précise la même source.

Senegal bans the importation, use, distribution, stocking and sale of pesticides named under the Stockholm Convention, these include: pesticides such as Aldrine, Chlordane, Dieldrine, Endredrine, Heptacholore, Mirex, Toxaphène, DDT and chemical products such as Hexachlorobenzène (HCB) and Polychlorobiphényles (PCB). This is very good news, as in the past there has been many reports of the negative impact of these chemicals on both farmers and farm labourers and on the general environment.
In many cases there are natural, organic solutions to pest problems. We have used the Neem tree as our primary pesticide for 3 years now, and it has been very successful in protecting out fruit trees, in combination with the plentiful growth of Vetiver. More information on some of our work with this can be found at: www.ciks.org/ian-nov2004.PDF which reports on Neem use by Pepiniere Naac Baal, from the Centre for indigeanous Knowledge Systems (India)