UNDP pilot steps up a level to nationwide coverage
Initiative to reduce DDT usage in China scaled-up after creating significant environmental and economic impact
Beijing, 27 May — The
Ministry of Agriculture launched today in Beijing a new national plan
to promote an eco-friendly alternative technology to replace the
agricultural use of the harmful pesticide Dicofol across China by 2015,
based on a pilot project run by the Ministry of Environmental
Protection and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Since 2009, UNDP has been working with partners to
encourage Chinese farmers to stop using Dicofol – a DDT-based harmful
pesticide – and use safer alternative methods, known as the Integrated
Pest Management (IPM), that employ green techniques to ward off
agricultural pests.
“This inspiring project is an outstanding example of
work for sustainable development, as it contributes to China’s efforts
in both poverty reduction and environmental protection,” said
Christophe Bahuet, UNDP China Country Director at the launch event.
Farmers who took part in the pilot found that their
crops not only could survive without being coated in Dicofol, but
actually flourished. Before, apples from one pilot site in Luochuan
County, Shaanxi Province were selling for 2 RMB per kilogramme; now
they fetch three times that amount. 100,000 farmers at Luochan and two
other pilot sites in Hubei and Shandong have already been trained to
use environmentally-friendly IPM techniques such as planting grass at
the base of trees to provide alternative habitats for pests. Many of
these farmers have now become trainers, passing on their knowledge to
others. This was one of the project’s key features – once the knowledge
has been imparted to a community, it spreads itself.
In addition to boosting incomes, the project has
also strived to shut down Dicofol production lines which led to DDT
production in China being cut by 2,800 tons, DDT-related emissions
falling by 350 tons and DDT-contaminated waste reduced by 1,350 tons.
As well as having a positive impact on the environment, these
reductions also mean that China was able to meet its obligations under
the Stockholm Convention, which governs the use of DDT and sets strict
health and safety standards globally.
Based on the successful experiences collected from
the three piloting sites, the National Promotion Plan launched today
maps out concrete steps to roll out IPM techniques in China’s main
plantation areas of oranges, apples and cotton across the country
through a series of activities including training, demonstration,
communication and incentive-making. This 3-year nationwide plan aims to
completely phase out Dicofol use in China by end of 2015.
“In launching this new plan, the whole of China is planting a seed for a chemical free future,” said Bahuet.
This project is one of many initiatives being implemented in China by
UNDP and its partners, as part of a cohesive programme of assistance to
the government of China in meeting its targets under various
international environmental conventions for chemical control and the
Millennium Development Goal to ensure humanity’s environmental
sustainability.
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