Seminar in Rashayya against irrational use of pesticides

Afak Association, the Center of Rashaya and West Bekaa Development, organized a seminar on pesticides and their associated risks at the Kamal Jumblat Socio-Cultural Center in the Chouf mountain area. The event was held as part of the agricultural extension program carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture across Lebanon. During the seminar, the head of the Agriculture Department – Mount Lebanon, engineer Aboud Freiha, noted that farmers are suffering from the spread of agricultural diseases as a result of the irrational use of pesticides. He called for the rational and moderate use of pest control agents and for their replace with organic non-toxic products. He went on to explain that pesticides affect human beings on the long term and may lead to chronic and cancerous diseases. He urged farmers to comply with Agriculture Ministry instructions on the use of such agents, warning against the chemical precipitation on vegetables and fruits. (Al Diyar, 18 June 2015)