Growers union supports paraquat in Mali

Mr Kefa Diarra is General Secretary of the Malian Union of Cotton and Food Crop Producers - GSCVM (Groupement des Syndicats Cotonniers et Vivriers du Mali), Bamako, and works closely with the CMDT (Mali Textile Development Company) in recommending products for the approved list. This organisation has become a full partner with the CMDT and the government in negotiations over fixing input- and cotton prices.

Mr Diarra is also a cotton grower in Ballan Bamanan growing 11 ha of cotton and some other crops. Previously, he tried organic production of cotton with manure but stopped after 2 years following pest build up.

Now Mr Diarra is an active supporter of paraquat-based products, “Its great efficacy on all weeds makes it very popular among the farming community and it is very easy to handle” he explains in a written testimonial he sent the Paraquat Information Center.

“Furthermore, in the last 15 years we’ve been using the product I have never heard of any cases of intoxication whether by skin or other routes of entry from my farmer colleagues..”

Mr Diarra finally hopes that Gramoxone will remain available to West African farmers for a long time.

Read Mr Diarra’s full testimonial here (in French).