Vegetable exporters in Dominican Republic warned on excessive pesticides

Date:08-17-2011

If the excessive use of pesticides on crops in the country’s Oriental vegetable exports isn’t solved, Dominican Republic risks losing the European market, warned the European Union’s ACP Policies Adviser for the fruit and vegetable sector.

Morag Webb, the adviser for the multi-industry association, is in the country together with other advisers to unveil technical assistance programs to support Dominican farmers and agribusiness companies which export to Europe.

She said since the country’s Oriental vegetable exports move a large sum of money and involve hundreds of small producers, it’s essential to deal with the high levels of pesticide residues detected in those export crops, because the European market wouldn’t allowed them.

After reiterating that country runs a “real risk” of losing the European market and that other farm products could also affected, Webb revealed that the Agriculture Ministry has a project ready to confront the problem.

It’s the second time the local vegetable industry is warned on pesticides, the first late last year by the U.S. authorities.