By Clara Chooi
Wednesday May 9, 2007
CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Up to 90% of the over 4,000 farmers here use banned pesticides on their crops.
This was admitted by a group of farmers here yesterday during a press conference held by the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP).
“It is a known practice. We use it because it is more effective than the permitted pesticides,” said one farmer, who refused to be named.
However, he said the farmers usually stop using the dangerous chemicals on their crops whenever it was close to harvesting time.
“We spray the pesticides once a week during the three-month period while our crops our growing. About a month before harvest, we switch to the permitted pesticides,” said another farmer.
Unsafe: Subbarow showing reporters on Tuesday some samples of the banned pesticides that farmers in Cameron Highlands have admitted using on their crops.
The farmers said that the banned pesticides could be bought from local agents who get their stocks from Thailand.
There are about 15 types of such pesticides including the brands of Super Mac, Lannete, Naporex and Vertimec, which cost between RM25 and RM350, depending on weight and quality.
According to the farmers, at least 70% of the crops were being consumed by Malaysians while the rest were exported to Singapore.
However, they said that the crops for export would be treated with fewer pesticides and would be washed thoroughly before they were packed.
“That is why the Singaporeans are still buying our crops,” said CAP education officer N.V. Subbarow.
He was commenting on Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Mah Siew Keong’s recent statement that if local crops contained dangerous pesticides, Singapore would have stopped importing them. -- The Star.
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