Zimbabwe takes stock of obsolete pesticides - Move meant to close a 20 year knowledge and action gap

Harare, Zimbabwe, like most developing countries, faces problems in discarding obsolete stocks of pesticides. It is estimated that half a million tonnes of obsolete pesticides are scattered throughout the developing world. These toxic chemicals, often stored outdoors in leaking containers, seep into the soil and water, posing severe threats to both the environment and public health.

Eliminating these dangerous stocks is a development priority. In this regard, the Government of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has embarked on a countrywide inventory of the chemicals - a critical step that allows the country to determine the exact extent of the problem leading to eventual disposal.

A training session on how to undertake an inventory exercise following international best practices  was conducted  in Harare from 16-20 November 2016 facilitated by an FAO international expert and it drew people from government, the academia, private sector, regulatory authorities and the standards body.

The week long workshop was described by Irvin Kunene, the Director of Environment in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate as critical as it laid an important foundation. "This training is important in that it will enable you the trainees to be able to identify and quantify the obsolete pesticides that we have in the country. This is important as we want to protect the humans and the environment," said Kunene in a speech.

Disposal will prevent further accumulation
FAO's international work on obsolete pesticides involves identification of obsolete stocks (inventory), safeguarding; disposal and helping countries to prevent further accumulation. "The only way we can permanently eliminate the dangers posed by old and unwanted pesticide stocks is to make sure that no more stocks accumulate. That's why it is essential to understand the reasons behind the build-up of existing obsolete pesticide stockpiles", said Ivy Saunyama an FAO pesticide risk reduction consultant.

After the training, participants will then undertake an inventory of pesticides across the country in an exercise that will run until 18 December 2015. This stock take, follows a smaller one that was done in 2011 when Zimbabwe was developing its National Implementations Plans under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, but this time around it is more comprehensive. In addition to determining types and amounts of pesticides, this exercise will also ascertain the quantity of contaminated containers and equipment. The extent of contamination on soils and other materials will also be under the spotlight.  

Obsolete pesticides clean-up an expensive endeavour
Participants during the training discussed what causes obsolete pesticides and agreed that there is need for review of legislation, strengthening of pesticide regulatory and enforcement capacity. It was also agreed that there was need to strengthen institutional capacity for sound pest and pesticide management. Another strategy to be pursued is awareness raising (including through monitoring and reporting of pesticide poisoning incident) as well as enacting and implementing policies that promote use of safer alternatives to chemical pesticides.  

It was agreed that apart from posing a danger to humans, livestock and the environment, obsolete pesticides were expensive to dispose of.  It is estimated that it costs between USD$ 3000 - 5000 to clean up a tonne of obsolete pesticides. This cost includes inventory, packaging, site clean-up, transportation and disposal. In most cases, the high temperature incineration of obsolete pesticides - which is currently the recommended disposal method - is not done within developing countries and has to be shipped where such facilities exist (mostly Europe).  

There is risk that poorly handled obsolete pesticides may contaminate ground water or the soil, posing danger to both human beings and livestock getting in contact with the chemicals, inhaling its vapours or drinking contaminated water. In some cases, poorly handled pesticides have caught fire leading to serious environmental damage and loss of property.  Cases of pilferage have been recorded in Zimbabwe and elsewhere from poorly secured obsolete stockpiles, with the stolen pesticides being sold to unsuspecting farmers and users resulting on crop damage and or failure.