The residents of Moldova suffer the consequences of the incorrect use of pesticides in the past. Now there is a pressing need to abandon using hazardous chemicals, said Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Bumakov, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a seminar centering on the topic, the official stressed that the use of pesticides is a problem faced all over the ex-Soviet area. The project “Improving capacities to eliminate and prevent recurrence of obsolete pesticides as a model for tackling unused hazardous chemicals in the former Soviet Union” has been implemented in 12 countries. Its budget is €7 millions, €6 millions of which was provided by the EU and €1 million by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that will manage its implementation. The minister underlined the role of the new technologies for cultivating crops that exclude the use of hazardous substances. “An important role in the process of constituting modern agriculture in Moldova is played by the FAO, which offers real support to the farmers whenever necessary,” said Vasile Bumakov. The project aimed at improving the capacities to eliminate hazardous chemicals was approved in April. The initial stage will last for 6-8 months during which there will be devised the work program for every country. The project covers the obsolete pesticides and persistent organic pollutants and includes the management of hazardous chemicals. Among the beneficiaries of the project, besides Moldova, are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.