Island to destroy 40 mt of pesticides

Cape Verde is to get rid of some 40 mt of expired pesticides which pose a potential danger to the public, AFP reported on Monday quoting Director-General of Agriculture Joao Fonesca. The pesticides were imported in 1985 to battle a locust invasion that also affected Mauritania and Senegal, east of the archipelago. Fonseca told IRIN on Tuesday that the supply of pesticides outstripped the nations’ needs. So, a collective decision was taken to rid the three countries of their surplus. The Netherlands has already agreed to pay for the removal and transport of the pesticides, an operation which Praia estimates will cost 8,000 euro (US $6,788.69) per mt. “The chemicals are well stored and pose no danger to the public.” he said.