Farmers still using pesticides banned 10 years ago: NGO

JAKARTA (JP): A survey conducted by a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Semarang shows that 30 percent of the pesticides used by farmers in Sumatra and Java were banned 10 years ago.

Duta Awam Foundation, a health and environment NGO, said that use of the banned pesticides could lead to the pests becoming immune to other pesticides, an immunity which could be passed on to their offspring.

"The pesticides are still in use due to the farmers' ignorance about the banned products," survey coordinator Nila Ardhianie told The Jakarta Post.

Nila criticized agricultural extension officers in the field for failing to inform farmers about the banned pesticides, adding that peasants have poor access to pertinent information.

In the survey, 87.6 percent of the farmers admitted to knowing nothing about the pesticides being banned and 70.8 percent of the farmers continue to use them.

"Many farmers use the wrong pesticides because of the poor access to pesticides. This is deplorable," she said.

Presidential Instruction No.3/1986 banned 57 pesticides in 1986.

According to the survey, conducted from July to November 1996, the banned chemicals Azodrin 15 WCS, Basudin 60 EC, Diazinon 60 EC, Elsan 60 EC, Nuvacron 20 WCS, and Thiodan 35 EC are still in use. All have been classified by the World Health Organization as either extremely hazardous, highly hazardous or moderately hazardous.

The number of brand-name pesticides registered at the Ministry of Agriculture is 520, 52 of which have temporary licenses. (08)