Agrochemical imports in Costa Rica increase by 37%; mancozeb most popular import

The import of agrochemicals in Costa Rica increased by 37% during the last five years, indicates the State of the Nation 2020 report.

While in 2015, the country imported 13.1 million kilograms (kg) of active ingredients, the figure increased to 18 million kg by 2019, according to data from the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) compiled in the report.

In addition, phytosanitary authorities recorded an increase in "apparent use", referring to the number of pesticides used in the field. This figure increased by 18% between 2015 and 2019, the data shows.

One of the reasons for this increase, according to the SFE in the report, is that agricultural production at the national level also increased, which is related to the use of agrochemicals.

Most of the pesticide imports (49.1%) correspond to the fungicide Mancozeb, which is used with aerial application in banana and rice plantations, according to SFE records.

Other ingredients widely used in the country were 2,4-D, chlorothalonil, diazinon, paraquat, ethoprophos and glyphosate. Together with mancozeb, these account for three-quarters of pesticide consumption in Costa Rica.

Since 2015, Costa Rica has not registered new active ingredients in the agrochemical registry, according to the SFE database. This may be causing health problems and environmental pollution.

Some substances are already old and have proven to be highly toxic and to replace them, it is necessary to allow the import of new substances with less impact, indicated Minister of Agriculture, Renato Alvarado.

This issue concerns the ministries of environment, agriculture and health. There has been an attempt to speed up the registration of new substances, but that has not yet reflected in the imports.

The original Spanish version of this piece is from ameliarueda.com.