Grain Guide 2016

GRAANGIDS

2016

GRAIN GUIDE

Use pesticides responsibly

As agriculturists we must use agricultural substances or pesticides responsibly – to such an extent

that we are able to produce sufficient, safe and affordable food and fibre for the country without

affecting the health of people and the environment.

There is an entire pack of anti-pesticide mutts baying about the producers and how they poison

everything, but they are seldom able to place any proof of their allegations on the table. Here is

some hay to chew on, and yes, some will digest easily, but some will require a lot of chewing. I

call these the ten commandments of responsible pesticide use:

Plan your production season carefully and purchase only the pesticides and volumes that you

will definitely need. If the agent offers anything at a cheap price and you purchase unneces-

sary products, they will only accumulate.

Buy only registered pesticides from recognised dealers, in other words agents associated with

CropLife South Africa’s member companies, in order to ensure that they are of a good quality

and legal. If a pesticide does not contain a registration number on the front panel of the label,

it is illegal in South Africa. Such a registration number starts with a capital L, followed by four

numbers (e.g. L1234) and Act No. 36 of 1947.

Store your pesticides in a proper storage place that has walls, a roof, ventilation, lighting

and locking doors. Many malicious poisonings occur with agricultural substances stolen from

producers, and often it is the producer’s own animals that die from them.

Study the label of each agricultural substance carefully and apply it strictly according to the

prescriptions. Regulation No. R1716 of 26 July 1992 warns that using an agricultural sub-

stance for any purpose or in any manner other than that indicated on the label is a criminal

offence in terms of Act No. 36 of 1947.

Provide your farmworkers with basic training on the safe and responsible use of pesticides.

This will lead to more effective and responsible use as well as better production.

Wear protective clothing, for example a face mask, a cloth cap, long sleeves, long trousers

and gloves when mixing and applying pesticides (this applies to the tractor driver who will

spray the pesticide as well). Protect yourself against possible splatter, mists and oral intake of

pesticides and spray mixtures.

Calibrate the spraying equipment so that the correct dosage of the pesticide is applied. This

includes checking spray heads to make sure that they are not worn or blocked. Spray pressure

must also be correct, as must the engine revolutions of the tractor and the speed at which the

tractor moves.

Pesticides must be applied only if the weather is favourable. If the southeaster is blowing or

the Highveld thunder clouds are looming, or if it is so hot that everything just evaporates, stop

applying the pesticide. The wind may blow the pesticide mists across to the neighbour’s potato

fields and that might get you into trouble.

Continued on p. 101