According to Aenda (Brazilian Association of Generic Defensives), there need not have been a ban on the herbicide Paraquate, decided by Anvisa last week. “It would be more rational to prohibit (restrict as much as possible) for small users and allow large-scale agriculture to continue using it, as it is highly efficient and cheap”, says Túlio de Oliveira, executive director of the entity.
He admits that it really is a dangerous product, but argues that the incidents occur among small farmers: “In fact, the product was banned in China precisely because the majority of Chinese agriculture is carried out by small farmers. Small Brazilian farmers, around 4 million properties, still do not have a level of education or accurate discernment of the dangerousness of the product, so it is better that they do not use it. In fact, for these there are many options and they can do without Paraquat”.
Túlio remembers that herbicide is the product most used for cleaning direct planting land, before planting the crop. “It’s cheap and kills all the weeds. However, in the absence of Paraquat, the farmer uses product combinations (Glyphosate, Dicamba, Glufosinate, 2,4-D, for example). It will increase the cost, but the product is not essential”, he states.
The director remembers that the product will only be effectively banned on September 22, 2020, according to Anvisa Resolution 177. “If studies are delivered by then that prove non-mutagenicity and non-correlation with Parkinson’s disease, the decision will be reversed. Resolution 177 brings some mandatory measures to mitigate product risk, which will require efforts from the parties involved. Aside from that, continue using the product until the end of 2020”, he concludes.
Source: Agrolink
