Dr. Arvin Boolell Calls for a National Coalition Against the Dangerous Use of Pesticides

On Monday, November 24, 2025, during the opening of a one-day awareness workshop on pesticides held at the Caudan Arts Centre in Port Louis, Dr. Arvin Boolell, the Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy, and Fisheries, reaffirmed the government's commitment to controlling and reducing pesticide use due to their impact on human health and the environment.

Organized by the respective ministry in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), this workshop aims to raise awareness among key stakeholders, including farmers, pesticide users, extension agents, importers, distributors, and regulatory authorities, about the responsible management of pesticides from their importation and distribution to their use and disposal.

Dr. Arvin Boolell reminded attendees that while pesticides are intended to protect crops, they can act similarly to medications in the environment, creating dependency for pest control while posing serious risks when misused. He warned that excessive or improper use could lead to severe public health risks, including an increased risk of cancer, and contribute to ecosystem degradation.

The minister emphasized the importance of acting responsibly, condemning intensive spraying that "turns fields into death zones," and called on NGOs, scientific officials, farmers, importers, distributors, and government agencies to unite in a collective "war" against the excessive and dangerous use of pesticides and herbicides. Highlighting the need for increased on-ground commitment, Dr. Boolell urged officers to be present in the fields to educate stakeholders on appropriate practices and promote the transition to sustainable agriculture.

Also present was Deputy Minister Fabrice David, who underscored the crucial link between sustainable development in the agro-industrial sector and the quality of food that ends up on consumers' plates, noting that this quality is determined by decisions made in the fields.

He highlighted the importance of the "Low Chemical and Chemical-Free Sustainable Development Implementation Programme in SIDS (Small Island Developing States)," a regional initiative focused on the proper use and management of pesticides. This program is being implemented in 30 small island developing states (SIDS) in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific. Comoros, the Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles are part of the Indian Ocean component.

UNDP Resident Representative for Mauritius and Seychelles, Ms. Alka Bhatia, presented the objectives of the UNDP-GEF ISLANDS project, which include preventing future influxes of materials and chemicals containing persistent organic pollutants, mercury, and other hazardous substances, ensuring the safe management and disposal of existing harmful chemicals, and ensuring the safe handling of products entering SIDS through closed-loop systems.

Dr. Preeaduth Sookur, head of the crops and agro-food sector in agricultural services, emphasized the critical need to protect public health, reminding participants that improper pesticide use can have severe consequences for both human well-being and biodiversity.

On this occasion, five awareness-raising video spots were launched.