Experts on the causes of mass poisonings in cotton fields

Baku / 21.06.18 / Turan: Over the past 10 days more than 200 cases of poisoning have been registered in the cotton fields of Azerbaijan, but the official structures do not give any clear explanations for the reasons for this. Law enforcement agencies conduct investigations, but also do not provide information, and promise to take measures. Chief of the State Service of Phytosanitary Control Jamal Guliyev has been fired so far.

Mansur Piriev, the head of the press service of the Agency for Food Safety, said that the control over the import of pesticides, biological preparations and agrochemical substances will be strengthened.

Commenting on facts of mass poisonings, head of the NGO "Support for Agrarian Reforms" Vahid Maharramli believes that the cause of poisoning is the excessive use of pesticides. He believes that the chemicals were used not according to instructions, but as they please. In addition, low-quality, overdue pesticides are imported to the country.

"We recorded even the use of herbicides (chemicals used against weeds), which expired 4 years ago," said Maharramli.

According to him, a control system for the import of toxic substances has not been created in the country, and no work is conducted with the peopleworking in the fields. "During the Soviet period, against "cotton scoop" were sprayed from airplanes. "However, this was inefficient and dangerous for people. Therefore, for safety of the population, this was abandoned and pests were collected by hands," said Maharramli.

Chemicals are dangerous not only for people, but pets. In addition, they destroy and beneficial microorganisms on the ground, which leads to soil degradation. Import of overdue chemicals is a criminal offense. Quality certificates for these drugs must be issued. It is necessary to ensure the technical safety of workers in the fields, their lives must be insured, the expert said.

Doctor of Economic Sciences, Gubad Ibadoglu, sees the reasons for mass poisonings in the non-competence and not the experience of farmers and corruption in controlling state bodies. Head of the Center for Economic and Social Development Vugar Bayramov believes that cases of poisoning can reduce the interest of citizens in agrarian production.

"In the world, almost anywhere in cotton production is not used manual labor because of the increase in the cost of cotton. Technology of horticulture is needed," Bayramli said.

Expert Mohammed Talibli believes that in fact poisoning of the population has been happening for a long time, but slowly. First, they began to import genetically modified foods. Then began to use mineral fertilizers for the early ripening of vegetables. All this has led to an increase in cancer," Talibli said. -03B06-