Sunday April 23, 2006
CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Enforcement will be stepped up to check the use of illegal or fake insecticides on crops as it would affect the country’s reputation in exporting quality agricultural produce.
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(from right) Mah, McGilivray and vegetable growers association chairman Tan So Tiok visiting an agricultural produce exhibition in Cameron Highlands on Friday. |
“The use of these fake agrochemicals destroys the crops. In order to tap into foreign markets like Japan, West Asia or Western countries, we need to ensure the quality and safety of our produce,” he said after launching a manual on Good Farming Practices and Agriculture Chemical Safety here on Friday.
Mah said farmers didn't know that although the fake insecticides saved them money, they might contain harmful additives.
“We are stepping up enforcement to eradicate this problem. Some of these fake chemicals are produced locally and distributed through syndicates and we have identified a few,” he added.
Syngenta Crop Protection Sdn Bhd general manager John McGilivray, who attended the launching, said the use of such fake products was one of the biggest problems faced by the local agricultural industry.
McGilivray said that 15% of the RM420mil total market value of insecticides accounted for the fake products and the figure was rising.
On an unrelated matter, Mah said the Government was reviewing a proposal forwarded by some 10,000 farmers who asked for subsidised diesel, like the one currently given to fishermen.
The Federation of Malaysian Vegetable Growers Association proposed last December that farmers be given a “preferential diesel card” to alleviate the escalating production costs following the fuel price rise.
“We sympathise with them but as this involves a substantial cost, we need time to review the matter,” said Mah.
Source: The Star
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