The state owned Adami Tulu Pesticide SC is concerned about the stock of 400tn of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) it has in its possession after the decision of the Ministry of Health (MoH) to ban its use starting this year.

Due to this decision, Adami Tulu, located 170km south-east of Addis Abeba, which had imported the raw materials for the production of 800tn of DDT this year, is required to stop indefinitely. It was engaged in the production of pesticides and chemicals.

The ministry has reached this decision after realising that the anopheles mosquito that transmits malaria has acclimatised to the chemical.

MoH also attributes the reason for banning the use of DDT to traces being observed on some exportable goods, according to Tedros Adhanom (PhD), minister for Health.

Apparently, Adami Tulu requested the ministry use the 400tn of DDT that it already had in stock two weeks ago, sources disclosed.

Since the company has not been getting sufficient revenue and DDT is the only source of income, it has become a concern, according to sources at the company.

The request has not been accepted by the ministry.

"We will export the DDT in the company's stock to other countries," Tedros told Fortune.

The MoH has selected two chemicals, Deltametrin and Malatine, to replace DDT and Adami Tulu Pesticide has opened a letter of credit one week ago from the CBE to purchase 400tn of the former.

"Deltametrin, compared to DDT, is environmentally friendly," an expert at the Ministry of Health said.