The Cameroon government has banned any chemical with Metalaxyl active ingredients, from being marketed and or circulated in the country. This ban was effected, November 25, 2016 following decision No: 01326/16/D, signed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), Henry Eyebe Ayissi.
The ban was attributed to the fact that metalaxyl has the propensity to induce some long-term health hazards including but not limited to Cancer.
Though 18 months of grace from the date of the ban, was given to dealers and farmers so they can dispose of their declared stocks, the Minister urged farmers to desist from using these chemicals. He indicated that Cameroon produce detected to have metalaxyl chemicals, risk being banned abroad. Already, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, and Senegal, among others, have banned the chemicals from their countries.
Metalaxyl bound chemicals like Apromil 72WP, Bingo A, Cocomil 72WP, Fongistar 72% WP, among others, are noted among farmers as the superlative pesticides for their farms. These chemicals are very common among cocoa and coffee farmers, tomatoes, pepper, okra, and other vegetable farmers. Most if not, all of these farmers have shown some form of reluctance desisting from the use of such chemicals.
According to Joseph Tegoh, a cocoa farmer and agricultural technician, government needs to carryout enormous ‘mind cleansing’ among cocoa farmers before Metalaxyl pesticides could effectively cease from farms. He opined that government takes the message to farmers down in the villages for it (government) to succeed.
“Most of the chemicals we use have metalaxyl, and we need good substitutes that will permit us make profit. The truth is, farmers may suffer losses from blackpod diseases, and prices of the new chemicals might escalate. Government needs to carry the message to the villages where cocoa farming is huge. If thorough education is not carried out, we will continue to have residue in cocoa that plays on the quality of our cocoa exported,” Mr Tegoh Joseph said.
To Essapa Patrick Enow, President of Southwest Farmers’ Cooperative Union, the ban came so abrupt to farmers with no alternatives given. While appreciating government’s efforts in cleansing hazardous chemicals in circulation, he wished more sensitisation be done so farmers will conscientiously abandon the Metalaxyl additive chemicals, and not necessarily be followed by government’s repressive measures.
“Many farmers got so confused with the ban. Farmers had got so intimate with these (Metalaxyl) chemicals that they find it difficult to desist from them. I believe if the government goes down to the rural areas and educate them on the dangers, farmers will conscientiously leave the chemicals without being followed by government. Also, the government should provide alternatives to the reachability and availability of every farmer. This will greatly dissuade farmers from using the banned chemicals,” Mr Essapa said.
Another Farmer, Obenofor Etienne, a Cocoa dealer in Konye, Southwest Cameroon, said the ban came as a big blow to them. He indicated that many farmers already purchased huge quantities of the chemicals for the 2017 farming season even before government ban. While applauding government’s extension period, he however indicated that it will take so much time for them to shift from Metalaxyl fertilisers to the alternatives.
“Most of us trade cocoa seeds for some of these chemicals. Since last harvest season, we already stocked huge piles of the chemicals in our warehouses. We can’t just do away with the stock especially as they cost fabulous sums. We thank government for extending the ban period but what becomes of our cocoa seeds in the world market, after we have applied the banned chemicals?” Mr Obenufor wondered.
Meantime, the Southwest Chief of Service for Agricultural Development, Mr Nchufor Christopher, has indicated that government has provided enormous quantities of substitutes for Metalaxyl bound chemicals. He added that government was left with no choice but to ban the chemicals, giving growing concerns from international communities.
“The ban is to secure our cocoa and other produce in the international market, as metalaxyl chemical residue has exceeded 0.1Mg. There are substitute pesticides in the market which will help farmers protect their cocoa from the blackpod disease which does not contain active ingredient, metalaxyl. We have substitutes like AG COPP 75 WP, Fongica, Golden Blue, Sinomil Plus 72WP, and many others that have as active ingredients, Copper Oxide, Copper Sulphate, Dimethomorph, and others. These ones are good in the farmlands, but also very efficient in our health systems,” Mr Nchufor said.
He indicated that government after the 18 months of grace, will automatically stop the importation of all products containing Metalaxyl. That will be followed by repressive controls to ensure that no trace of the products are found in Cameroon.
Meanwhile, farmers are advised to invest in using organic chemicals which are natural and healthy to the body. Promoters say there exist natural fertilisers (manure), and pesticides like Microbial pesticides which could be good alternatives for inorganic pesticides.
By Yanick Fonki Ndeley
