On Wednesday Environment Minister Luciano de Castro and the Japanese ambassador to Mozambique, Tatsuya Miki, signed an agreement under which Japan will provide 1.1 million dollars {about half the sum required} towards the removal and destruction of the pesticides.
The project began in 2003, and the initial phases involved the collecting, listing and safe packaging of the chemicals, and the training of technical staff in how to deal with this toxic waste.
In this phase, the pesticides will be eliminated - probably outside the country, since Mozambique has no facility for the safe incineration of pesticides - and studies will be drawn up on how to prevent the wasteful use of pesticides which has resulted in the accumulation of unwanted stocks of these chemicals which then become obsolete and unusable.
Speaking at the ceremony, Castro said the project has been of value to Mozambique since it has resulted in the training of several technicians who must now continue to monitor and assess the situation of pesticides in the country.
SOURCE: AIM
