Category: carbofuran | Date: Oct 30 2009 | By: paula

Dear all We are pleased to share this press release today from the EPA  

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward to implement the agency’s May 2009 final rule revoking tolerances, or residue limits, for the pesticide carbofuran. EPA continues to find that dietary exposures to carbofuran from all sources combined are not safe.

“The evidence is clear that carbofuran does not meet today’s rigorous food-safety standards,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. “EPA has carefully evaluated the scientific issues and has provided more than 500 days of public comment on this decision. It is now important to move forward with the needed public health protections, especially for children.”

Short-term health effects include headache, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, chest pains, blurred vision, anxiety and general muscular weakness.

EPA encourages growers to switch from carbofuran to safer pesticides or other environmentally preferable pest control strategies. Since the tolerances are being revoked, EPA reminds growers that carbofuran should not be applied to any food crops after December 31, 2009. Use of carbofuran after this date could result in adulterated food products, which would be subject to enforcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The United States has a safe and abundant food supply, and everyone should continue to eat a variety of foods, as recommended by the federal government and nutrition experts.

During the objection period, the chemical company FMC Corporation, which manufactures carbofuran, and three grower associations submitted objections to EPA’s tolerance revocations and requested an administrative hearing. EPA has concluded that the regulatory standard for holding an evidentiary hearing has not been met.  EPA’s explanation about why a hearing is not warranted, and the reasons for denying the objections are available on the web and will be published soon in a Federal Register notice.  As part of the administrative process, FMC may appeal the revocation of the carbofuran tolerances to a federal circuit court of appeals.

EPA’s May 2009 action to revoke carbofuran tolerances was the culmination of a regulatory process that began in 2006 when the agency published its risk assessments for carbofuran and determined, in August 2006, that no uses were eligible for reregistration. While FMC has voluntarily canceled 22 carbofuran uses, the elimination of these uses was not sufficient to allow the agency to make a finding that combined dietary exposures to carbofuran from food and water are safe. The process to cancel the remaining carbofuran registrations is under way and will address unacceptable risks to farmworkers during pesticide application and to birds in and around treated fields.

More information: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/carbofuran/carbofuran_noic.htm

Tags: ban carbofuran, carbofuran, farming, FMC, furadan, Pesticides, poisoning

2 responses so far

Category: Masai Mara, Pesticides, carbofuran, lions | Date: Oct 29 2009 | By: paula

Despite all the evidence raised by WildlifeDirect and partners on the impact of Carbofuran on wildlife (lions, birds, fish, insects), the Kenya Pest Control Products Board has not been supportive and indeed states that there is no evidence that the product is dangerous. Unlike Canada and USA, the Kenya Government does not provide consumers with any information on the impacts that products we use are having on people or the environment.

The US EPA is proceeding toward cancellation of carbofuran registrations, to address risks to pesticide applicators and birds.  In 2006, in addition to dietary risks, EPA identified significant occupational and ecological risks from the use of carbofuran. Although carbofuran uses have benefits, EPA concluded that carbofuran products pose an unreasonable risk to human beings and the natural environment, and these risks outweigh the benefits of continued use. Therefore, all uses of carbofuran must be cancelled.In Canada, all products containing carbofuran are proposed for phase out because, based on available scientific information, they do not meet Health Canada’s current standards for human health and environmental protection and pose unacceptable risks to human health and the environment. Additional mitigation measures are not being proposed at this time.

We submit that if carbofuran is too dangerous to be used in USA and Canada then it is too dangerous to be used in Kenya.

Frederick M. Fishel at the University of Florida Pesticide Information Office  has written up a detailed account about Carbofuran and the cancellation process on their website. The following content comes from that site.

Carbofuran is a carbamate insecticide/nematicide, first registered in the United States in 1969. Carbofuran is classified as a restricted-use pesticide due to acute oral and inhalation toxicity. Carborfuran inhibits cholinesterase enzymes, affecting nerve-impulse transmission. Several formulations of the trade product, Furadan^®, are currently available (Figure 1). Although carbofuran has various registered uses, some of the commodities carbofuran is applied to in Florida include potato, corn, sugarcane, and cotton.

In the late 1990s, to reduce risks posed to drinking water and the natural environment due to carbofuran use, the manufacturer, Food Machinary and Chemical Corporation (FMC), made a number of changes to labels for flowable carbofuran. These changes included reducing the label-allowed application rates and numbers of applications.

• Topics: Pesticide Information Office  |  Fishel, Frederick M  |  Insecticides  |  Nematicides

Carbofuran Cancellation Process¹

Frederick M. Fishel²

This EDIS publication provides a brief history of carbofuran’s use in the United States, describes risks associated with carbofuran use, and outlines the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) stated rational for revoking its regulations that have allowed carbofuran residues in food. This publication also describes the EPA’s plans announced in 2008 to cancel the pesticide’s registration due to risks carbofuran poses to pesticide applicators and to birds in treated fields.

Carbofuran Background

Carbofuran is a carbamate insecticide/nematicide, first registered in the United States in 1969. Carbofuran is classified as a restricted-use pesticide due to acute oral and inhalation toxicity. Carborfuran inhibits cholinesterase enzymes, affecting nerve-impulse transmission. Several formulations of the trade product, Furadan^®, are currently available (Figure 1). Although carbofuran has various registered uses, some of the commodities carbofuran is applied to in Florida include potato, corn, sugarcane, and cotton.

In the late 1990s, to reduce risks posed to drinking water and the natural environment due to carbofuran use, the manufacturer, Food Machinary and Chemical Corporation (FMC), made a number of changes to labels for flowable carbofuran. These changes included reducing the label-allowed application rates and numbers of applications.

Figure 1.  Furadan 4F is an example of a carbofuran trade product currently on the market in USA.

To date, three human studies have been conducted for carbofuran – one oral and two dermal. In May 2006, these studies were reviewed by the EPA’s Human Studies Review Board (HSRB). The Board concluded that, while the studies were informative, the results are not appropriate for use by the EPA in either the individual carbofuran or carbamate cumulative risk assessment. The EPA did not use the results of the human studies in the risk assessment for carbofuran. Carbofuran is classified by the EPA as “Not Likely” to be a human carcinogen.

Ecological Effects

Carbofuran is:

• Very highly toxic to birds on an acute basis and highly toxic on a sub-acute basis. A chronic-effect level could not be established because all concentrations tested caused mortality in the test subjects.
• Highly toxic to mammals on an acute basis. Chronic toxicity testing on laboratory rats showed reduced offspring survival and body-weight reductions.
• Very highly toxic to freshwater and estuarine/marine fish on an acute basis. The available chronic test showed larval survival as the most sensitive endpoint for freshwater fish. Embryo hatching was indicated as the most sensitive endpoint for estuarine/marine fish.
• Very highly toxic to freshwater and estuarine/marine invertebrates on an acute basis. Chronic tests showed reproductive effects.

Pesticide Reregistration

All pesticides sold or distributed in the United States must by law be registered by the EPA, based on scientific studies showing that the pesticide can be used without posing unreasonable risks to people or to the environment. Additionally, the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996 protects the public from health risks presented with exposure to excessive pesticide residues in/on foods and everyday surroundings, such as in the home and at places of employment. This FQPA amended the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) with respect to the EPA’s process of establishing tolerances for pesticide residues in food and in the atmosphere. As a result, pesticides first registered by the EPA before November 1, 1984, must be reregistered to ensure that the pesticides meet today’s more-stringent standards, which are due to advances in scientific knowledge.

In evaluating pesticides for reregistration, EPA obtains and reviews comprehensive studies from pesticide producers describing each pesticide’s effects to human health and the environment. To implement provisions of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996, EPA considers the special sensitivity of infants and children to pesticides, as well as aggregate exposure of the public to pesticide residues from all sources and the cumulative effects of pesticides and other compounds with common mechanisms of toxicity.

EPA develops any mitigation measures or regulatory controls needed to effectively reduce each pesticide’s risks. EPA then reregisters pesticides that meet current standards for human health and safety. According to the EPA, these are the pesticides that can be used without posing unreasonable risks to human health and the environment.

When a pesticide is eligible for reregistration, EPA explains in a Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) reasons for the decision on whether to reregister the pesticide or cancel registration for the pesticide.

Tolerance Revocation

Due to considerable risks associated with carbofuran in food and drinking water, EPA is revoking its regulations that have allowed carbofuran residues in food. Because dietary exposures to infants and children are of particular concern, the EPA is moving to revoke carbofuran tolerances first, before cancelling carbofuran registrations. This approach provides the most direct and timely means to realize protection of children from dietary risks. It also allows multiple stakeholders an additional opportunity to comment.

According to a statement released by the EPA on July 24, 2008, even though carbofuran is used on a small percentage of the U.S. food supply and therefore the likelihood of human exposure through food is low, EPA has identified risks that do not meet their rigorous food safety standards. EPA is taking the necessary steps to address these risks to ensure that the U.S. has the safest food supply possible. Children and others should continue to eat a variety of foods, as recommended by the federal government and nutritional experts.

In a Federal Register notice signed in July 2008, EPA is proposing to revoke all U.S. carbofuran tolerances. EPA specifically will request comment on whether any individual carbofuran tolerances, or group of tolerances, meet the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) safety standard. It is possible that one or more individual carbofuran tolerances could be maintained, if information is provided to demonstrate that the tolerance(s) would be safe.

Revoking carbofuran tolerances is part of a broader series of EPA actions to cancel all uses of carbofuran in the U.S. due to human dietary, occupational, and ecological risks of concern. After moving to revoke carbofuran tolerances, EPA subsequently plans to publish a Notice of Intent to Cancel all carbofuran registrations.

EPA establishes tolerances for pesticides that may be found on foods and can also revoke tolerances to better safeguard public health and the environment. The EPA must modify or revoke any tolerance that it determines is unsafe, that is, that does not meet the safety standard of the FFDCA. The EPA is proposing to revoke all tolerances for carbofuran because exposure through food and drinking water does not meet the FFDCA safety standard.

 Canada

This information is from the Canada Pest Control Board.

 “After a re-evaluation of the insecticide carbofuran, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, is proposing phase out of carbofuran products in Canada.

An evaluation of available scientific information found that, under the current conditions of use, carbofuran products pose an unacceptable risk to human health and the environment, and therefore do not meet Health Canada’s current standards for human health and environmental protection. As a result, all uses of carbofuran are proposed for phase-out. This includes registered uses on canola, mustard, sunflower, corn (sweet, field and silage), sugar beet, green pepper, potato, raspberry and strawberry as well as temporary emergency uses on turnip and rutabaga. The emergency uses on turnip and rutabaga were registered for the period of April 1, 2008, to August 31, 2008, and are no longer registered for use in Canada, but were included at the time of this assessment.

The PMRA’s pesticide re-evaluation program considers potential risks as well as the value of pesticide products to ensure they meet modern standards established to protect human health and the environment. Regulatory Directive DIR2001-03, PMRA Re-evaluation Program, presents the details of the re-evaluation activities and program structure. Re-evaluation draws on data from registrants, published scientific reports, information from other regulatory agencies, and any other relevant information available.

The proposal affects all end-use products registered in Canada that contain carbofuran. This Proposed Re-evaluation Decision is a consultation document that summarizes the science evaluation for carbofuran and presents the reasons for the proposed re-evaluation decision.

The information in the Portable Document Format (PDF) version of this document is presented in two parts. The Overview describes the regulatory process and key points of the evaluation, while the Science Evaluation provides detailed technical information on the human health, environmental and value assessment of carbofuran.”

Tags: carbofuran, EPA, FMC, furadan, Kenya, Paula Kahumbu, PCPB, pest control, Wildlife, wildlife poisoning

One response so far

Category: Pesticides, carbofuran | Date: Oct 15 2009 | By: paula

I am very sad that the CEO of the Kenyan Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), Mrs Gladys Maina cannot have a serious conversation with us about carbofuran poisoning in Kenya. She appears to be bitterly angry that WildilfeDirect has called for a ban on this product. This does not make a lot of sense to me since her job is not to protect the agrochemical industry but to protect consumers and the environment. My efforts to discuss issues with her on phone have always involved accusations that I am an ‘activist’ and that I have a personal grudge against her. It’s silly I know but even if it were true, that does not relieve Mrs Maina of her duties as the CEO of the PCPB.

According to their website the PCPB aspires to the following

Our Vision
The vision of the PCPB is to be the leading regulatory agency for pest control products in the region.

Our Mision
The mission of PCPB is to provide an efficient and effective regulatory service for importation, exportation, manufacture, distribution, transportation, sale, disposal and safe use of pest control products and mitigate potential harmful effects to the environment.

Kenyans are using furadan and other pesticides in hunting birds and fish for  human consumption. This is not just about the dying birds, fish and other animals, it is a Public Health concern.

KENYANS SHOULD BE OUTRAGED!

Out tax money is paying for the salaries of civil servants like Mrs Maina who has a very specific duty towards Kenyans. She should hav no choice but to do her job or be judged for failing to protect Kenyans from the harmful effects of carbofuran by refusing to respond to reports of unsafe use and harmful effects to the environment.

Mrs Maina insists that I am fabricating reports. This is why I am publishing them here on line for all to view.

I made the slide show Purple Death to illustrate what is happening in Kenyan rice schemes to enable anyone anywhere to share this information and demand that the PCPB respond.

I am also attaching a report written by Martin Odino on July 18th sent by registered mail to Gladys Maina of the (PCPB) in accordance to her verbal instructions (she told me that our previous reports were not in the correct format preventing her from acting).

Though no written acknowledgment was received, Mrs Maina did confirm to me on phone that that did receive the reports but that she will not investigate this or any other incident reported - citing her concern that WildlifeDirect and friends are mere “activists”, that our reports contain no “technical facts”. She also said that the PCPB will not make site visits, nor will they be testing samples collected by us from the field as she suspects that we have tampered with the samples. In other words they will pretend that this and all other reports were in fact, never made.

This report was copied to Linda Froelich of FMC as per our agreed procedures captured in minutes of a meeting between the Stop Wildlife Poisoning Task Force held at the WildlifeDirect Nairobi offices on April 15th 2009. We have received no response from FMC.

This disappointing situation reveals just how deep the psychology of denial is in the PCPB and FMC.

We will continue to post carbofuran (and other pesticide) poisoning incident reports here for the record

INCIDENT REPORT OF POISONING OF BIRDS IN BUNYALA (JUNE 2009)

Please find below a report of witnessed bird poisoning from Bunyala, Busia in June 2009. I wish to bring to your attention that between June and July (2009) I have been Ahero Rice Scheme and Mwea Rice Schemes where witnesses say there is ongoing poisoning of birds using Furadan. In Mwea and Ahero, the species of birds poisoned are the White-faced Whistling Ducks and Fulvous Whistling Ducks in addition to doves in Ahero. In all the sites the birds were intentionally poisoned for human consumption.

Please also find attached photos taken during June 2009 survey of the poachers with the poisoned birds in sacks and about them; also a photo of a torn off Furadan label by the poachers to conceal the identity of the Furadan poison they are using.

We also had some dove samples whose contents (gut-crop, gizzard and intestinal- contents) tested for carbofuran poisoning as well as the sampple of the bait that was used to poison them tested for carbofuran and I have also attached the certificate of analysis.

BUNYALA POISONING

Incident: Poisoning of Cattle Egrets (8 birds)
Date incident occurred: 04/06/2009
Threat: 3 species of Egrets(Cattle Egrets, Yellow-billed Egrets and Little Egrets), Hadada Ibis, Sacred ibis, Sandpipers and humans that handle the furadan and those that feed on the poisoned birds.
Method:termites and small fish laced in Furadan

Incident: Poisoning of African Open-billed storks (22 birds)
Date incident occurred: 06/06/2009
Threat: Humans that use Furadan for poisoning and those that consume the birds.
Method: Snails (Species Pila ovata) laced in Furadan

Incident: Poisoning of Cattle Egrets (4 birds)
Date incident occurred: 06/06/2009
Threat: Other Egrets (Yellow-billed Egrets and Little Egrets), Sacred Ibises and Hadada Ibises. Humans that use Furadan for poisoning and those that consume the birds.
Method: termites and small fish laced in Furadan.

Tags: carbofuran, FMC, furadan, Kenya, Paula Kahumbu, PCPB, pesticide poisoning, Wildlife

One response so far

Category: Hippopotamus, Masai Mara, Pesticides, carbofuran, lions | Date: Oct 14 2009 | By: paula

By rob

Music provided by Kevin McLeod incompetech.com - to all you out there who have stood by us we  Thank you! Your support gives us strength.

Tags: carbofuran, FMC, furadan, Kenya, KWS, Lion, lion guaridans, lions, Martin Odino, Masai Mara, Paula Kahumbu, Richard Leakey, Wildlifedirect

11 responses so far

Category: carbofuran | Date: Oct 11 2009 | By: Martin Odino

Conditions are looking up for any life form with the onset of rains in Bunyala.

The local rice irrigation scheme which is esssentially the area’s industrial zone giving most people a chance to earn a penny is bustling with activity at the moment. And the rains have boosted foliage for livestock which are looking fine and birds at first sight are about abundantly and in their various kinds of course being the migration period.

The irrigation scheme

A healthy goat enjoying thorny foliage

Greenshanks finishing off their sleep in the early morning

A female Greater Painted Snipe stirring in the early morning

For weeks now, light drizzles have been gracing the evenings after the scorching tropical day time sunshine. A few days ago however, the rains came down unexpectedly in the morning hour shortly after 0600hrs forcing my assistants and myself to take cover by a roadside hut with the inhabitant(s) most likely sound asleep inside; a few minutes later, the showers subsided. The skies appeared dreary for a downpour and the sunrise rays even lit the east. We were headed for the furthest part of the study site so we did not mind getting a little wet from the slight drizzle provided we beatt time and poachers who are also early risers. Midway through our journey and the showers broke into a significant downpour, so we took cover at the irrigation board premises. We relaxed and watched through the rain not in any hurry any more. Afterall heavy rains meant no poisoning because of the need to economize on the cost of the poison (by the poachers)and the rains washing off the poison from the baits and the birds bowsing fresh rain water would just not maximizing on kills which meant wasted poison.

We took GPS points and made notes, occasionally chatting with the farmers in the rice scheme and enlightening them on this whole business of Furadan and poisoning. I was amazed at how informed some were. I had sought to find out if they had been supplied with Furadan to use in their cultivation plots having noted that they had already been given seedlings, part of the package that normally comes with Furadan. They said they were not being given Furadan this season because the pesticide was banned. They said they had been told that if the harvest was good who knows, some maybe exported!and what would be better news for the pheasant farmers. However they were told that the rice would not be accepted in the international market if certain chemicals were found in the export product; Furadan is one of these products that potential importers will be looking at and the chemical would be found if it is used in planting and tested at the export-import level. “So as long as we are the ones eating the foul cereal someone thinks it is alright!” Further, they said the government had banned it because it was being misused for poisoning lions.

The ‘New friends’ that we talked to. They are using oxen to ready paddy fields; a giant rake-like impliment is attached to the chain and drawn by the oxen along the water-filled plots to remove any debris in the ploughed, soggy earth prior to planting the rice

We upheld the hope of non-eventful bird poisoning incident as the day wore on. With evey one ticking minute and the prospect of a downpour later on in the day almost guaranteed that we would clock the coveted zero figure for bird mortality for the day!

When we were Just about to finish walking the last transect, a flock of Open-billed Storks stirred ahead. No doubt some poachers were rounding them up so that they fly on to their poison bait set up. With the stabilized sunshine after the morning rain the birds had embarked on intensive foraging. Gorging to satiate their hunger hoping to recover lost time while waiting for the heavily pelting rain to subside earlier on and probably trying to beat the immiently warning showers later on. The poachers knew better and took advantage.

Godwits feeding with heads immersed in water

Ruffs feeding in harmony their backs watched by the Curlew and Wood Sandpipers.

An African Spoonbill busy dabbling for food

Just in time for us to take off and avoid getting soaked by the rain, the poachers left the site with 12 Storks and numerous sandpipers

One of the poachers with his catch (poisoned birds) loaded on his back

As we also made off to camp we passed by a dead stork and a farmer’s cutlass and shoes, a sign that the action had been going on for some time before we arrived.

Usually the poachers will not let you take any of their bird for free no matter where the poisoned victim is collected from. This bird must have been a stray bird which in an attempt to get away from the assaulting poachers collapsed to its death in this lucky farmers plot out of its pursuers sight. Such is the case for many other birds of which not all are recovered. A wasteful, brutal technique poisoning is.

And so the days wear on.

Please keep reading.

Technorati : Bird poisoning, Bunyala, Lion, Poacher, Poison

Tags: bird poisoning, Bunyala, Lion, Poacher, poison

3 responses so far

Category: carbofuran | Date: Oct 07 2009 | By: Martin Odino

The deadly aspect about Furadan and any other poisoning is its concealed manner of killing. It is even worse when those using the chemical to kill wildlife do it in an unobtrusive way. I mean stealth and seemingly normal movements when in reality they are taking down unsuspecting victims. A monotonous sentences composition for this blog!

In assesing the impact of my education to poachers in Bunyala, a portion of the poachers acknowledge the venture is barbaric and while change to farming appears a difficult shift in lifestyle, some are contemplating embracing the change. But there is the immoral lot who have opted to beat me at the game and deny me access to the actual facts and figures of the still on-going poisoning and realized bird mortality.

During this week, we came across this poacher who was equiped with farming impliments like any other person working in the rice scheme. The fellow seemed to be turning upside down mounds of earth, picking up what we later found out were earthworms and putting them in a cup with Furadan. The bait searching is what gave him away because he seemed to be walking about aimlessly. Suspicious that he was up to some mischief , we had our binoculars on the guy and true to our suspicion the guy was poisoning waders but most shocking was how he was recovering the carcasses of the poisoned birds:

The guy used his cutlass to flatten mounds of earth formed by earthworms and jutting out of the flooding water. These are most ideal bait laying sites if the waders have to see and feed on the bait.

He then went ahead to lay the bait; eartworms laced with Furadan

Then came the moment of waiting for the waders to get intoxicated.

Everytime a substancial number (on average between 4 & 6) of birds became drowsy and dropped on the ground the chap moved in and picked the dying and the dead. The sandpipers that were still strong were strangled!

Then he pocketed them!

And pocketted still more!

My tally was 108 between 11.00 and 12.30. The guy after every trip to gather his spoils headed behind a termite mound where he had hid his sack and made several trips to hide his catch from our probing eyes. Satisfied, he walked away fast and in line with the raised earth mound so we could not capture him before disappearing behind bushes.

A ruff at the Bunyala irrigation Scheme in eclipse (intermediate) plumage- Most birds are in the transition from post breeding plumage to winter or non-breeding plumage which upon attaining the legs and bills will be dull grey (rather than pinkish -orange).

This is how the ruffs are flocking in Bunyala to refuel their energy bundles before emabarking on their continuing journey down to South Africa. Such will be the down trend of migrant birds during the remainder of the season which is a long 8 months period lasting from September to about end of April. Unless of course the chemical that is empowering the poachers to poison the poor creatures is banished.

Please keep reading.

Technorati : Bunyal Irrigationn Scheme, Furadan, Poisoning

Tags: Bunyal Irrigationn Scheme, furadan, poisoning

One response so far

Category: carbofuran | Date: Oct 06 2009 | By: Martin Odino

Dear Readers,

Apologies for my irregular writing lately. Many atimes I have been confronted by unavoidable field challenges unfavourable for blogging but I will keep doing my best to fully update you whenever the opportunity allows. My posts are therefore bound to be long but interesting so please kindly hang in there and read them through.

The latest development at Bunyala Rice Irrigation Scheme is the expansion of the cultivation field at least up to twice the former size. While the current size is at least 500ha large, the paddy fields continue to be reclaimed every day extending in all directions and I am informed the locals have been advised to leave no fallow land uncultivated by the national agricultural authorities. It is expected that the rice yields will alleviate the famine situation in our country, Kenya.

A small section of the extended agricultural land. The trees to the right are part of an untended live fence to a home. Irrigation water has spread into the compounds of most surrounding homes.

Much as this establishment sounds nobly humanitarian, the farmers are pessimistic that the intensive rice growing will bring them any economic fortune on their part. They boldly proclaim being robbed of their effort-draining toiling and moiling by the irrigation board which provides rice farming inputs enticingly labeled subsidized. The farmhands (casual laborers) who also happen to be the land owners say they tediously tend and eventually harvest the crop needless to add are responsible for the daily airing and drying of the cereal at the irrigation board’s storage premises awaiting to be sold. It is the irrigation board that indeed springs back into action to sell the processed cereal when the time comes. From the sale, the irrigation board then takes back what the farmers owe them and the remaining penny is forwarded to the farmers. In the words of the farmers that I talked to, the amount is best described to range between peanuts and negative, to mean you may still owe the board especially if the crop fails and this debt is carried forward to be recovered next season.

From my research perspective, my study site is greatly altered especially the transects that I have been working in. There are more of these now and are tougher to navigate because the maiden ploughing involves ‘deep flooding’ with the water depth in the feeder canals extending up to hip high for an average Kenyan man. My assistants and myself walk the whole day to be able to survey the whole site for bird poisoning. We must admit that in a number of cases we miss out on the poisoning going on on the distal end of the study site which extends beyond the comfortable optical aided view of our binoculars.

Taking GPS readings and recording bird mortality (myself writing from a low culvert slab and my assistant close by looking on far afield; the other is the photographer)

Talking of poisoning, it is of course Furadan poisoning of birds. Much as the farmers are staggering to keep faith that their intensive rice farming should pay this season, the season has come with fairly good news of no Furadan for rice planting! It does look like someone after decades of deviance is being careful to observe the law for once of Furadan not being allowed for use in rice fields. It must follow the persistence at Wildlife Direct to question the explicit law breaking by the supplier in getting the poison to Kenyan irrigation schemes. Bravo on this move! But the pesticide is still available.

Dangerously wielded by radical bird poachers, the pesticide continues to crash populations of birds through deliberate poisoning for human consumption:

The photos below were taken 2-3 days ago.

Poisoned African Open-billed Storks in a sack

A poacher making away with dead birds in a sack

The purple colour of Furadan showing on the snail baits for the storks; the little faded shade of purple is most likely because the bait was prepared the previous day

Bounty of the birds being the migration period is not making it any better.A flock of Black-tailed Godwits.

An unrecovered carcass of a poisoned Black-tailed Godwit by the poachers; one of the cases where we missed out on a bird poisoning incident. Small fishes that come with the flood water had nibbled on the bird’s neck tissues. A larger fish would probably gulp down the whole carcass and also die.

The poachers say the Furadan is still available from sources they are not comfortable to talk about owning up only Uganda as one of these sources. The pesticide’s identity is kept top secret to any stranger and every bit of its evidence is destroyed almost as soon as it is purchased but for the poisonous granules of course. The small pack (see below: note there is no label on the container) now costs around 8.5 dollars (Ksh 600).

Nonetheless, we are still doing our best in trying to educate the poachers most of whom are torn between the vegetable farming idea and keeping on with the poaching. One factor stands in the way of those undecided. Furadan availability! The good news is a number are increasingly becoming convinced that vegetable farming might just be a better idea and one has offered to look for a piece of land where we can start from.

An education session: Poachers peering at knowledge in my guide book

Please keep reading. I will be giving you more poisoning updates inclusive of a video clip of how storks are beaten to their death and captured once disoriented by Furadan poison shortly.

Technorati : Bunyala Rice Irrigation Scheme, Furadan, Kenya, Poisoning, Wildlife Direct

Tags: Bunyala Rice Irrigation Scheme, furadan, Kenya, poisoning, Wildlife Direct

2 responses so far