The Ministry of Agriculture, two associations and the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD) launched on 17 May 2019 the program “Campo Limpio RD”, with an investment of RD$100 million to regulate and establish implementation mechanisms for the collection and final disposal of empty containers of pesticides and related products. Also participating in the signing of the agreement were executives from CropLife Latin America, which provides technical support and training to associations on the proper use of waste from empty materials. The agreement also includes an awareness and training program for producers and personnel involved in the use of the products.
Agriculture Minister Osmar Benítez and the presidents of the National Associations of Importers of Agricultural Products (Animpa), Ricardo Billini, and of Manufacturers, Representatives and Importers of Products for the Protection of Crops (Afipa), Henry Monsanto Domínguez, and the president of the JAD, Luis Bonilla, signed an agreement to this end. Representatives of international organizations such as Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and Regional International Organization for Plant Protection and Animal Help (OIRSA) attended the activity, which was carried out in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Benítez said that the government, through the Agriculture Ministry, seeks to strengthen the health and safety of food as the first pillar of its commitment to society to increase participation in the supply of food consumed by the people and promote greater volume and value of agricultural and agro-industrial exports.
Afipa president Henry Monsanto reported that the agreement includes the construction of 10 large collection centers and another 100 mini centers in different parts of the country.
He said that the Campo Limpio program will train thousands of people, including farmers, in good agricultural practices to ensure safety in agricultural production.
Meanwhile, Animpa president Billini said that “the public and private sectors have agreed to work for the good of the environment, rivers, seas, people and our future generations. This country and the world are affected by the excessive use of plastic.”
Benitez announced that Agriculture will build the first center for collecting empty containers of the 10 covered by the agreement. It instructed the Vice Minister of Extension, Leandro Mercedes, to begin construction of the center as quickly as possible to put it into operation so that it begins to meet the obligation of farmers to triple wash empty containers of agrochemicals and to take them to the collection centers that will be throughout the country.
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Hoy
Afipard
20 May 2019