Federal Govt asked to subsidize herbicides
KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government was asked to subsidize the purchase of herbicides (agricultural chemicals) following the price increase which burdened farmers due to difficulties in obtaining supplies from the world’s major producers.
Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) Sabah deputy president Datuk Robert Tawik @ Nordin said price increases occur due to decreased production resulting in unreasonable price increases.
“The problem of supply of herbicides (agricultural chemicals) is now a global issue where the burden borne by farmers in the country must be addressed by the Federal Government through import policy,” said Robert who is also the Bingkor assemblyman.
Robert, who is also Sabah’s Assistant Minister of Works, added in Sabah, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan had been asked by farmers for herbicide prices to be lowered to normal levels.
In a statement on Sept 26, Dr Jeffrey who is also the president of STAR stated that the increase in the price of agricultural chemical materials was due to the Covid-19 pandemic which affected the production of major manufacturers in India and China.
Thus, Dr Jeffrey who is also the Member of Parliament for Keningau asked the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism to control the price of agricultural materials which include herbicides, fertilizers and other agricultural chemicals.
Meanwhile, STAR Vice President Dr Paul Porodong, who surveyed the production of all types of herbicides (glyphosate) in the world, found that the sharp increase in prices was also due to the decline in production in China and Texas, USA.
Dr Paul, who is also STAR’s Strategic Director, said the decline in glyphosate production in China was due to, among others, the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown, massive floods of the Yangtze River, panic buying and supply preferences in the country.
He added that the electricity crisis in Texas, USA in Feb 2021 also contributed to the decline in herbicide production when natural gas, which is a major component of manufacturing, was channeled more to the public.
Dr Paul further explained that the decline in agricultural chemicals production in Texas, has affected exports to South America, forcing countries on the continent to turn to China to get supplies that are currently very limited.