The Farmers Union of Malawi has advised government not to bring back Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT) for fighting mosquitoes in the country as this would have numerous negative business and health consequences.

FUM President Felix Jumbe said although the intention to bring back DDT may sound rosy, the development would end up affecting the well being of many Malawians.

"This must be discouraged at all costs. DDT is banned because it is a health hazard and if government brings it back, it will defy the international stand on the issue and even lead to loss of markets for our agricultural produce," said Jumbe.

Last month, Director of Preventive Health in the Ministry of Health, Storn Kabuluzi, told the Parliamentary Committee on Health that DDT will be re-introduced in the country next year for use in some areas on a pilot phase to eliminate malaria.

He said although DDT has been widely deemed as not environmental friendly, World Health Organisation (WHO) has produced guidelines on how the pesticide can be used without polluting the environment.

However, the tobacco and tea industries in the country have openly spoken out against the proposal, saying bringing back DDT would be a very negative development and would lead to massive loss of market for tea and tobacco.

DDT is a banned chemical internationally as its ingestion and exposure have been proven to cause diabetes and other chronic effects on the nervous system, liver, kidneys and immune systems.