CAIRO: Internationally prohibited insecticides have been found to be used by certain Egyptian farmers in the Nubariya region. Many of these pesticides are believed to have been smuggled in from China and Israel, according to Mohamed Abdel Qader, head of the Egypt's Farmers Syndicate. “Some farmers are using the Altimk insecticide,” said Abdel Qader. “China produces this insecticide and specifically exports it to Egypt. Altimk insecticide is internationally prohibited because of its negative effect on health.” Apparently, the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture is not aware of this product. The Kafr el-Sheikh and Beheira governorates have recently also been suffering from cotton worm, moth larvae which feed on the leaves of the cotton plant and can cause tremendous damage worldwide to many different types of crops, according to Abdel Qader. The Agriculture Association and the directorates of agriculture have been accused of not providing farmers with the necessary insecticides. Mohamed Abdel Hakeem, chairman of the Cotton Research Institute, denies the accusation that the Ministry of Agriculture did not fight the cotton worm infestation. “The Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture is providing agriculture associations with governmental insecticides that are not available in the market, said Abdel Hakeem in comments published by local media. “Insecticides against cotton worm are available for 525,000 acres.” This latest find comes after Youssef Wali was held last month for questioning after being linked to corruption and allowing cancer-causing pesticides into the country during his position as Agriculture Minister from 1982 to 2004. ** Additional reporting by Desmond Shephard BM
