AgroPages-Zambia: strengthen measures to regulate illegal use of agrochemicals-Agricultural news

The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) says the country needs to strengthen measures aimed at regulating the illegal use of agrochemicals which has increased due to the development of the agriculture sector.

ZEMA has since partnered with Croplife Zambia and Musika to embark on a countrywide programme which is expected to train over 350 agrochemical dealers’ in chemical safety practices and environmental management to ensure certification of their operations as it is a legal requirement.

ZEMA acting director general Maxwell Nkoya said most agro-dealers lack knowledge and understanding on how to store, use, apply and transport chemicals, thereby risking their lives as well as for the people.

Mr Nkoya said in a speech read on his behalf by ZEMA senior inspector Humphrey Mwale that the interventions supported by Musika through training workshops will also be extended to Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern provinces.

This was during the first workshop on chemical safety, capacity building and certification of agrochemicals dealers project organised by the ZEMA in collaboration with Croplife and support from Musika.

“ZEMA and Croplife Zambia have embarked on an intervention to train over 350 agrochemical dealers’ country wide to assist them comply with national laws on agrochemical management and disposal to develop confidence in their smallholder customers [to buy] genuine products, coupled with the right product information,” he said.

Earlier, Musika managing director Reuben Banda said as the demand and usage for agrochemicals continues to rise among rural communities, it is important to take precautionary measures to mitigate the negative impact on the environment and human health.

Mr Banda said there is need for key stakeholders both in the private and public sector to participate in developing the agro-sector, as it plays a critical role in increasing food availability.

“With our support in training agro-dealers, over 50 private companies have developed business models that have enabled smallholders to afford and adopt productivity enhancing technologies to increase efficiency, reduce costs and increase yields, hence benefit from their farming activities,” he said.