OIC countries hold workshop on pesticides on Monday

An International Workshop on Integrated Pest Management of Agricultural Pests for OIC Member Countries in Asia will be held in Islamabad on Monday, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

The encounter, sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank, is attended by scientists from the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Asian Member countries including Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran Indonesia, Jordan, Kyrghzstan, Malaysian, Oman, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkey.

They will discuss the complaints that most of the pesticides used today are non-selective toxic chemicals, which cause serious environmental problems. Ecological and agricultural sustainability has become a key consideration in present day agriculture.

The indiscriminate use of pesticides creates a number of problems such as environmental pollution, resistance in pests, upsurge of secondary pests because of elimination of natural enemies.

They also increase the cost of production. They are hazardous for human beings and animals. According to an estimate, health of about 400,000 to 2,000,000 people is adversely affected by pesticides every year. Out of these, 10,000 to 40,000 dies mostly in developing countries.

To reduce reliance on pesticides the modern trend is to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It is cheapest and softest method of pest control methods, such as biological, cultural, semi-chemicals, resistant varieties, pheromone etc. are used in such a way that the effect of one is complementary to the other. In IPM, pesticides are used as a last resort.

The meeting seeks to establish a Network of OIC Asian Member Countries in IPM for exchange of Information and further cooperation and further cooperation in research and extension activities, exchange information on pest control measures used in OIC Countries and their impact on environment, discuss solutions of pest problems which are common and establish a data base of techniques being used, to be used.