St. George’s, Grenada, 14/08/2022: The chemical burden of Grenada’s fruits and vegetables is several times higher than similar products imported into the country as a result of the high usage of agrochemicals used in the island’s important agricultural sector.

Agricultural officials say the time has come to reduce the over dependence on agrochemicals and artificial fertilizers in the production process and move to increasing the use of organic fertilizer and natural ways of pest management, in a bid to rebuild the soil and improve quality of fruit and vegetables.

“The fact is that there is great demand for organic products on the market. People are willing to pay a higher price for produce that is considered safe and not treated with the level of chemicals that we have been using over the years,” one official told the Barnacle.

In a sector that contributed 6.4% to GDP in 2021, a growing number of farmers are reconsidering their use of pesticides in foods they and their families consume, given the growing body of scientific evidence which shows a direct link between certain agrochemicals and diseases, including renal failure and Parkinson’s disease.

According to a 2019 study, titled “Social Characteristics Associated with Agrochemical Use and Health Risks among Grenadian Farmers”, some farmers who used certain agrochemicals experienced significant health challenges.

“The results indicate farmers who completed education at vocational school were more likely to experience health problems such as, allergic and non-allergic wheeze, rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea, and decreased DNA methylation associated with the use of agrochemicals. Farmers who did not have membership in farm organizations (GCNA, GCA..etc) were more likely to experience Parkinson’s disease and end-stage renal disease,” the study concluded. 

The study, conducted by the Department of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada and the College of Health Sciences, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States warned of the “need to regulate and monitor the use of agrochemicals by Grenadian farmers as a public health measure.” 

According to some industry analysts and farmers, the wide and uncontrolled use of herbicides, pesticides and artificial fertilizer has contributed to a decline in the quality of the island’s soils and products.  There is also a yet to be resolved question as to the impact of these agrochemicals on the quality of meats produced as a result of using the contaminated grass as feed for small ruminants, including goats, sheep and rabbits.

Almost on an annual basis the Grenada government receives a large shipment of fertilizer from one African country which it passes to farmers as a reduced cost for use on their farms.  While it may be politically attractive to “give” farmers inputs for their fields, there is growing concern that the fertilizers are impacting the island’s water quality in its rivers and reefs.

In light of the current issues which officials say can have implications for agriculture practice, health care and health surveillance as well the legal provisions for procurement and use of imported agrochemicals, Grenada’s Ministry of Agriculture is trying to steer the industry’s ship back to a more organic approach to production while improving and protecting the quality of the nation’s soil.

“We really want to help people, especially our farmers, to understand that commercial farming has a greater benefit when we utilize our local organic fertilizer to improve our soil. It impacts the soil but also the quality of the food we produce,” the official told Barnacle, noting that organic produce provides the opportunity for higher earnings.

There is hope among industry officials that this renewed push to organic production will see the expansion of Grenada’s export of fresh produce to existing and traditional lucrative markets while strengthening trade to new potential markets, such as CARIFORUM and the EU.