Nanjing, China, 30 October 2017. The Regional Training on Effective Utilization of Pesticides and Plant Protection Equipment in Asian Countries was successfully completed today after an intensive one-week schedule.

The Regional Training on Effective Utilization of Pesticides and Plant Protection Equipment in Asian Countries was co-organized by the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Nanjing Research Institute of Agricultural Mechanization of the Ministry of Agriculture of China.

In recent years, large amounts of pesticides applied to protect crops are washed away and leach into the soil, water and air. Pesticide poisoning incidents are frequently reported from various countries including those in Asia. In many developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region, the upgradation of pesticide application technology and equipment is lagging behind, while capacities for crop disease and insect pest prevention and control are relatively low. This poses a serious threat to crop production, and the health of farmers and agro-ecosystems.

In the above context, the Regional Training on Effective Utilization of Pesticides and Plant Protection Equipment in Asian Countries was conducted to:
1)introduce crop and plant protection machinery for precision application of pesticides;
2)share new developments and know-how on pest control in the participating countries;
3)enhance the knowledge and capacity of the participants on pesticide effectiveness and efficiency; and
4)contribute to improving the quality and safety of agricultural products, and protect the agro-ecosystem.
The Training contributed towards strengthening capacities in the region for promoting sustainable agricultural development and mechanization, and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture), and SDG 12 (ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns).

Fourteen Participants from government, and research and academic institutions, working in the area of pesticide utilization and plant protection in 9 countries attended the training including from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Established experts in the field were invited to deliver lectures during the training. The participants also visited testing laboratories and manufacturers of plant protection machinery, and attended the ‘China International Agricultural Machinery Exhibition 2017 (CIAME)’. Moreover, the participants prepared and shared pertinent information on pesticide utilization and plant protection, including general conditions and policies and regulations, in their respective countries.

The Training was a follow up action under the academic cooperation network of CSAM established at the ‘Regional Workshop for Research and Academic Institutions on Establishing a Cooperation Mechanism for Human Resource Development on Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization’ held in April 2017. More such thematic training events are planned to be organized under the academic cooperation network in the coming years.