News Scrap on 2KR in English

Due to Copyright, please check the original text for more details.

"Aid pesticides from Japan were left untouched for three years / in Mozambique"

Maputo, Feb. 23 Kyodo
*This article was published in Japanese. We have translated the same article into English.

Pesticides from Japan to Mozambique as a part of Official Development Aid (ODA) were left untouched at several places like Nacala bay in northern part of Mozambique.ÊMozambique government has been in trouble with the treatment of left pesticides. Civic groups claim the responsibility for disposition by the donor country.ÊAid neglecting circulation and environment will be an issue.

"Complete Review Called For / Grant Aid for the Increase of Food Production Criticised"

[Maputo, 23, Kyodo]
(--)According to MFA, in the aid program during the fiscal years 1994-1998, about 40% of the budget was allocated to pesticides in Africa, while in Asia it was 2.5% of the budget.

A Japanese NGO, the Mozambique Flood Victims Network, insists on reviewing the framework for this aid program. According to the Network, 'We are not saying that pesticides are completelyuseless. The problem is that there has been so far no framework to assess and monitor the distribution of hazadous materials and to provide necessary technical assistance." It is also pointed out that the current framework, which allows counterparts to market aid materials, might lead to corruption by the governments of receiving countries.

"Japan Is too Irresponsible"

Koa TASAKA, professor (environmental chemistry) of International Christian University, Tokyo.

"Aid Contributes to Increase of Grain Production"

Ichiro MUTO, Counselor of Japanese embassy in Mozambique

"Stockpiled agricultural chemicals polluting environment in Mozambique"

By: Yomiuri Shimbun
Date: 2002-04-30

About 100 tons of agrochemicals provided as part of official development assistance to Mozambique have been left unused in warehouses near ports in the African nation for about three years, The Yomiuri Shimbun learned recently. According to sources, despite knowing that about 500 tons of agrochemicals already provided by Japan and European countries were being stockpiled -- the Foreign Ministry sent an additional 270 tons -- valued at about 500 million yen to add to the oversupply.

"JICA Admits Sending Agro-chemicals to Cambodia was Mistake"

Mainichi Daily News (1994),
July 28, pp.1, 14.