AKIPRESS.COM - The intensification of agricultural production and the effects of climate change have increased the pressure on crops from pests and diseases.

The proper management of pesticides was the focus of a two-day FAO regional training event held in Chisinau from September 26-27.

The workshop has gathered more than 20 specialists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan to discuss and analyse the benefits of FAO’s pesticide registration toolkit in order to complement and strengthen the existing national pesticide registration procedures.

The toolkit, developed by FAO and maintained by FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division, supports low- and middle-income countries in the process of pesticide registration. It facilitates informed decision-making and can be used to identify highly hazardous pesticides, assess their risk, and review possible risk mitigation measures.

On the last day of the workshop, under the guidance of FAO experts, the eight countries developed a working plan for regional collaboration on pesticide management. The goal of the plan is to help promote sustainable agriculture in the region while protecting farmers, consumers and the ecosystem from the adverse effects of pesticides.