The authorities of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply of Brazil (Map), together with Blairo Maggi and the Federal Council of Engineering and Agronomy (Confea) have decided that only agronomists can prescribe agrochemicals.
Luis Rangel, the Secretary of Agricultural and Livestock Defense for the Map, justified the decision by saying that technicians used to be "subjected to the recommendation of the industries. Nowadays, income can be increased through technical knowledge, bibliographical and scientific references available in the market, and academic bibliographies. Agronomists have a little more freedom to make recommendations, as is necessary for phytosanitary control."
"The cooperation agreement allows us to move forward, it's a law that allows agronomists to exercise their professional judgement, i.e. making technical recommendation of what product should be used in the fields," Rangel added.
In addition, the agronomists are also responsible for the mixture prepared in tanks before the application in agriculture. According to the secretary, the measure also "removes the shadow of an involuntary illicit witness, i.e. the farmers. This used to be the practice because there was no technical responsibility in the recommendations. Obviously, the responsibility of Confea is to supervise the professional practice."
Source: SimFRUIT according to information from Mundo Agro