El Gedaref State Agricultural Corporation acknowledges crop damage by pesticides

A report issued by El Gedaref State Agricultural Corporation said that the areas planted with sunflower, sesame, millet and groundnut crops owned by about 32 farmers amounting to 8,040 acres have been subjected to damage by spraying pesticide, locally referred to ironically as ‘mass destruction’.

However, farmers are saying the total area affected is 25,000 acres and are demanding the company pay them compensation as quickly as possible.

‘Deficient pesticides’

As reported by Radio Dabanga earlier this month, more than 50 farmers in El Gedaref state have filed a criminal complaint for damage to vital crops by aerial pesticide spraying operations.

Farmers confirmed to Radio Dabanga at the time that large areas planted with sorghum, sesame, and sunflowers in the southern region of the state have been damaged. Farmers said “a foreign company and a Russian investor used a defective pesticide sprayed from an aircraft”.

They report that more than 25,000 acres of sesame, sorghum and sunflowers, which had reached the production stage, are affected.