Trinidad Express Newspaper
Ariti Jankie South Bureau
Monday, July 16th 2007
The number of suicides caused by consuming Gramoxone over the years stands out among the paraquat-based weedicide used for this unfortunate purpose on the Trinidad market.
Used by farmers to destroy grass and weeds from their fields, Gramoxone, when consumed by people whether intentionally or accidentally, causes almost instantaneous death.
Last week, Europe placed a ban on paraquat, the main ingredient in Gramoxone, which, it was said, resulted in a number of ailments.
Up to late last week, however, there was no word on the fate of paraquat in Trinidad.
It was noted though that many farmers depended on several paraquat-based weedicides to keep their fields clear of grass.
Agronomist Dave Seebaransingh said that Gramoxone was the most popular of the paraquet-based chemicals sold in Trinidad
"Grass is killed instantly when sprayed with Gramoxone," he said, explaining that farmers use the chemical mixed with water to spray their fields.
Seebaransingh said that Gramoxone killed plants instantly and was therefore used carefully by farmers so as to avoid destroying crops.
"Gramoxone is a restricted use chemical," he said, adding that there were more toxic chemicals on the market such as "lannate", sprayed on vegetables and food crops to kill insects.
Seebaransingh said that farmers chose paraquat-based weedicide because it was most effective.
Another product known locally as "roundup", which is free of paraquat, requires hours of sunshine before being sprayed on the grass. After spraying, it takes up to eight days for the grass to die, he said.
A 2.50 ml of Gramoxone cost $15 and can effectively kill grass on a 500 square feet area. The small bottle is used by householders to spray backyard gardens.
The products are sold by Neal and Massy Marketing and Distribution Agricultural department.
Managing Director of Caribbean Chemicals, Joe Pires, said that Gramoxone was the number one selling paraquat in the world.
"Gramoxone is an established brand name and it has been used locally for more than 30 years," he said.
Pires said that it was a class one product in the Toxic Chemical Act and farmers must be trained to use it.
