Following our letter on pesticides, which was published in the Paarl Post, we received a number of emails from concerned Paarl residents who themselves have been caught in agricultural spray drift and are suffering from associated health problems.
Strict new regulations control the application of pesticides of which residents of rural towns like Paarl, Wellington and Franschhoek should take notice.
The new regulations of the Fertiliser, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act stipulates that farmers who spray their vineyards must warn their neighbours of their plans.
No spray drift is allowed to leave the vineyards and get blown into areas not under treatment (residential areas).
The amendments make it compulsory for the registered applicator (pest controller or farmer) to warn all adjacent residents, in writing, 72 hours prior to any spraying taking place and to also post the necessary warnings on a sign at the entry to the vineyard, due to toxicity.
If wind conditions are such that spray drift (into a residential area) may occur, then spraying is prohibited.
If a resident lives adjacent to a vineyard all that he/she needs to do, if said vineyard is sprayed without notification, is to report this to the police and then to the national Department of Agriculture - this is even if there is no visible spray drift out of the vineyard.
If there is notification and still spray drift, then again a criminal act has been committed according to the act and again the police and Department of Agriculture need to be notified of this.
Should the farmer and/or registered pest control applicator not comply with the law, then his licence to spray may not be renewed. Spraying without a licence is also a criminal act. The amendments should result in greater protection for members of the public, including the farm workers themselves.
Most of the vineyards in Paarl get sprayed using a centrifugal crop spraying trailer pumping out 8000 litres of pesticide at a nozzle speed of 600 km/h.
Quite simply, this method of application ensures that spray drift into surrounding residential properties wil occur - and is therefore breaking the law. See www.tatibfoundation.blogspot.com for details.
Jurgen Schirmager (Tatib Foundation)
