UNDP pilot pushes chemical-free drive in China

UNDP China Country Director Christophe Bahuet addresses the launch workshop of the "National IPM Promotion Plan" in Beijing, May 27 2013. [Photo / chinadaily.com.cn]

The Ministry of Agriculture launched a new national plan on Monday in a bid to replace a DDT-based pesticide – Dicofol – with an eco-friendly alternative technology for agricultural use by 2015.

The plan is based on a pilot project run by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and United Nations Development Program, or UNDP, which has been initiating relatively safer alternative methods that employ green techniques to ward off agricultural pests.

"This inspiring project is an outstanding example of work for sustainable development, as it contributes to China's efforts in both poverty reduction and environmental protection," said Christophe Bahuet, UNDP China Country Director at the launch event.

To date, a total of 100,000 farmers in Shaanxi, Hubei and Shandong provinces have joined the pilot program, and have been trained to use the environmentally-friendly Integrated Pest Management techniques to provide alternative habitats for pests.

The country has stepped up its efforts to tackle environmental problems such as pesticide pollution and air quality, as these problems have been escalating in recent years.

"In addition to boosting farmers' incomes by raising the production of crops and fruit, the project has a positive impact on the environment by cutting down DDT-related emissions and DDT-contaminated waste," said Ding Qiong, director of the Foreign Economic Cooperation Office under the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

According to Ding, some Dicofol production lines have been shut down as the project was pushed forward, which led to DDT production in China being cut by 2,800 tons, DDT-related emissions falling by 350 tons and DDT-contaminated waste reduced by 1,350 tons.