2013 – 2014 – Community-based monitoring of storages of highly hazardous pesticides
Implemented by: Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE)
Duration: 2013-2014, 12 months
General Information
According to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia, there are some 200-280 tons of obsolete pesticides in the territory of the republic. These data are incomplete. There is a need to conduct inventory of obsolete and banned pesticides with the aim of their further elimination. Uncontrolled import and uninformed use of pesticides by individual farmers, as well as lack of knowledge on safe use of pesticides in agriculture may result in serious consequences not only for the environment but also for the health of the population. AWHHE is aware of the problems connected with such storages in the two target regions where pesticides were stored with no adherence to any sanitary norm in close proximity to populated areas and individual houses.
Target rural communities: 30 villages in Gegharkunik and Aragatsotn regions
Objectives: Reduce the risks due to highly hazardous pesticides through
- Conducting a rapid assessment of storages of banned and obsolete pesticides
- Raising-awareness of the rural population of the regions on health and environmental risks
Activities conducted during the project
- Rapid assessment of stockpiles (list of identified stockpiles, seminar on results for decision-makers and stakeholders
- Awareness-raising (a leaflet for farmers, a poster on identified stockpiles in two regions)
- AWHHE website update
Beneficiaries:
- general population (focus on farmers) of 30 villages in two regions
- interested organizations (local NGOs/civil society groups, national NGOs working in the area of environmental protection and sustainable agriculture)
- local authorities
Information Materials produced by the project