A farmer from Buiduna Nausori, Rohit Raj has told Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Mahendra Reddy that he has not seen any Agriculture Officer at Nausori market taking vegetables for testing at the laboratory.
Raj made this claim today after Dr. Reddy informed farmers in Lakena, Nausori that they are randomly testing vegetables and crops at their laboratories for chemical residue.
Dr. Reddy had told the farmers that when chemical residue is found above a certain limit, the agricultural officers go back to the market and confiscate all the vegetables that are being sold by the farmer.
Raj then told the Minister that he has not seen any Agriculture Officer at Nausori Market from last year.
Raj also asked Dr. Reddy to reveal as to how many tests have been done on the vegetables to check for chemical residue.
Dr. Reddy says after spraying the chemicals, farmers should wait for seven days before harvesting crops. He says if it doesn't rain for seven days, farmers need to wash the vegetables and crops before selling them.
