Spotlight on chemicals used in Arakan State vegetables

By Admin 04 Apr 2023

DMG Newsroom
4 April 2023, Sittwe

An official from Arakan State’s Department of Agriculture says that the use of pesticides and herbicides has been increasing in order to sell vegetables in the market.

Not only vegetables imported from mainland Myanmar, but also some vegetables grown and sold in Arakan State have been found to have been exposed to pesticide use unnecessarily.

“Some vegetables and onions are sold in the market using pesticides and other drugs,” said U Oo Tun Myint, head of Arakan State’s Department of Agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture says it is working with international and domestic civil society groups to provide township-specific awareness training to agricultural farmers seeking to prevent the unnecessary use of pesticides.

Consumers say that vegetables grown using herbicides and pesticides sell well in the market, but taste bad.

“As the vegetables have to be transported by road, people spray them to prevent them from rotting on the road. Vegetables grown using pesticides are sold in the market; the leaves are beautiful but tasteless when eaten,” said Ma Khin Aye, a vegetable vendor in Sittwe’s Myoma market.

Critics say there is a need for the relevant officials to carry out field tests because the use of chemical drugs in vegetables can have a negative effect on the health of consumers.

“There are departments that check whether meat and ready-to-eat products are healthy, so it is necessary to check vegetables as well. As much as possible, it is best if you eat organically grown vegetables without using too many pesticides,” said Ko Thar Gyi, a resident of Thinganet Village in Sittwe Township, who sells vegetables grown using organic farming.

Other pesticides can be toxic to the nervous system as well as cause cancer, according to the medical community.

Health officials have urged consumers of produce to eat only after properly washing and peeling vegetables and fruits as appropriate.