Govt asked to screen pesticide importers

Govt asked to screen pesticide importers

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Crop Protection Industry
Association (AIPTI) urged the government to screen potential
importers of pesticides and pesticide formulas.

AIPTI chairman Joko Suwondo said on Thursday tighter selection
and registration of importers with the Ministry of Agriculture's
Pesticide Commission would enable the government to control the
use of pesticides and more effectively protect domestic
industries.

He also said controlled imports would protect local farmers
from fraudulent products and help them select the most
appropriate pesticides for their crops.

"The government should only give import licenses to domestic
crop-protection producers," Joko told a business meeting.

He said most current importers did not care about the negative
effects of pesticides on crops, farmers and the environment.

Edible Plants and Horticulture director general Chairil Anwar
Rasahan said the domestic use of pesticides had decreased
steadily over the past three years, from 80,205 tons in 1996 to
64,697 tons in 1997 and 50,966 tons in 1998.

Chairil attributed the decline to higher prices caused by the
depreciation of the rupiah and the decreasing income of farmers.

Joko also called on the government to reduce import duties on
agrochemicals, which at present account for 60 percent to 70
percent of their price.

The association, formerly known as the Association of
Indonesian Pesticide Manufacturers, together with the government
has launched the Safe Use training program in Brebes, Central
Java, to help farmers use pesticides in a safe and efficient
manner.

Joko said the program would also be run in Malang, East Java,
and Brastagi, North Sumatra.

He said the association had set aside US$40,000 for each of
the three regencies to finance farmer training, the construction
of training centers and health centers for people affected by
pesticides.(01)