Scientists in the Carchi region of Ecuador have been working for ten years to establish the scale of pesticide poisoning in the area. The results have shocked them.

Most families have experienced pesticide poisoning; most of the pesticides used are products which the World Health Organisation classifies as the most hazardous products; and the traditional method of application by backpack sprayer leads to high levels of exposure.

But Carchi is not unique. Scientists believe that if the same level of research was carried out elsewhere they could show that many rural communities have similar problems.

Responsibility

Campaigners often claim that the chemical companies should take more responsibility for the products they produce but the situation is complex.

Many of the highly hazardous red label products have been restricted or banned in Europe and/or the USA. And in these countries, spraying applications are normally carried out from a sealed tractor cab, with protective equipment, and trained operators.

The big international pesticide producers have been under pressure to develop new, less hazardous products. But patents on the old, more toxic, substances have expired, and small local companies are now free to produce these familiar pesticides at an affordable price.

The risk of disease and insect damage is so serious for farmers, they often prefer to rely on the products they know rather than try something new in case it leads to crop failure.

One intelligent application of pesticide at exactly the right time, and I can harvest my crop in even better condition. Ecuadorian farmer

The best chance of reducing risk from pesticides comes from education. One initiative which does seem to be getting results is the Farmer Field School movement. Local farmers get together to plan the cultivation of a field, and are given training in identifying insects and diseases, and ways of reducing pesticides.

In Carchi, results are encouraging. One farmer told us that in the past he would apply pesticide to his potato crop up to six times in the growing season. On one occasion, he applied four products together, and collapsed in the fields. The incident scared him so much, he joined the local Farmer Field School Group.

Now he says with one intelligent application of pesticide at exactly the right time, he can harvest his crop in even better condition. His story seems to be typical. The scientists say that on average, the training has led farmers to increase productivity by up to 40% while reducing pesticide use by 75%.

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