Use of pesticides in crops

Dear Editor,

I TOTALLY agree with the message of a report titled "Agri department told to minimise use of pesticides in crops" published in The Brunei Times (Jan 31, 2012). Indeed, we have to be very, very careful with the use of pesticides - chemical substances in crops or cultivated plants which can be hazardous to human health.

Pesticides are used to control organisms that are considered to be harmful to the plants. Pesticides can save farmers' money by preventing crop losses to insects and other pests, but there is a cost to pay for this practice.

Pesticide exposure can cause a variety of adverse health effects ranging from simple irritation of the skin and eyes to more severe effects such as affecting the nervous system, mimicking hormones causing reproductive problems, and even cancer.

We understand that farmers need to prevent or minimise their crop losses by using insecticides, but on the other hand, they also have to control and minimise the use of the substances to avoid any negative effects to human's health and the environment.

We support the government's effort in developing the so-called integrated pest management (IPM) method which prescribes the minimum use of dangerous pesticides to promote environment friendly practices in farming of rice and vegetables.

As part of the programme, the government has sent agricultural officers to Thailand for the purpose of observing and learning how IPM is used for rice and vegetables. A series of workshops and field monitoring are also being conducted to create awareness about IPM.

A senior scientist from the CAB International (CABI) Southeast and Asia Regional Centre who presented his report at the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood on Monday, stressed the need of teaching rational pesticide application to the relevant stakeholders in the country.

Hopefully, all these measures being actively carried out by the government will ensure that the on-going food self-sufficiency programmes would be successful in producing better quality crops.

Ag Mohd Syakirin,

Gadong