I wish to taken this opportunity to welcome you to the Methyl Bromide Alternatives Project website.

The Projects overall goal is to assist growers and other methyl bromide users in soil fumigation to phase out the ozone depleting substances (ODS) by adopting alternatives that work effectively in the soil. Environmental issues have become very important in development especially where land degradation and people health are at stake. Methyl Bromide by depleting the Ozone layer allows ultraviolet B radiation to pass through and compromises the bodies immune system, causes skin cancer and eye cataracts.

Learn more about this interesting topic by going through our website. You will learn bout the alternatives being promoted by the Project which have been successfully used in many parts of the world. These include use of locally available substrates, use of metham sodium and steam. For small scale growers, seed dressing coupled with efficient water management using gravity drip irrigation.
The alternatives have all proved very effective and the MB team is working with many local farmers assisting them in the set ups and carrying training both on the farm in organised groups. Focus is on the growers who have been using or are potential users of MB. Out of the nearly 200 tons of MB that was in use at the start of the Project in 2003, over 140 tons have been phased out to date and the figure is still going down.
As you go through the website, note areas of concern and feel free to contact us at the address shown below. We shall greatly appreciate your comments/suggestion on the website.

Coordinator
Prof. Eunice Mutitu .

It is a powerful fumigant used for the control of soil borne and storage pathogens and pests and for quarantine and pre-shipment treatments. It is colourless, odourless and vaporizes at low temperatures and is toxic to humans on inhalation. It escapes into the stratosphere and reacts with the ozone layer allowing emission of ultra violet B radiation which causes cancer, eye cataracts and weakens the immune body system.