How to minimize Effects of External Pesticide Contamination?

Abstract

Pesticide contamination in adjacent areas to large commodity plantations is a fact described in many studies. In Mato Grosso do Sul, a study has shown a large amount of different pesticides in surface water, drinking water, and rainwater samples collected in traditional communities surrounded by plantations. Due to these results, these communities have requested the indication of practices to minimize pesticide contamination. Thus, based on literature review, combined with the practical knowledge of the team project, and discussions with community members, several techniques were proposed: arboreal vegetative barriers at communities’ boundaries, the installation of protective terraces at water drainage points, protected planting within greenhouses, springs and riparian zones protection and restoration. Notwithstanding, despite these practices may reduce pesticides contamination, they are not completely effective. Therefore, it is essential to keep the fight against the current agricultural model replacing with a system based on agroecology. In the meantime, it is important to support political struggles such as PRONARA, the ban of pesticides aerial spraying, the end of tax exemptions of pesticides, and the expansion of minimum distances for spraying in areas near to urban settlements, housing areas, traditional communities and conservation areas.