Ministry takes legal action against poor farming products

Various agricultural products, agencies and fertiliser factories face legal action for violating hygiene and quality standards, a senior official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said yesterday.

Abdullah Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz, Director of the Control and Guidance Department, said the prosecutions followed a clampdown on substandard products. "Strict measures have been taken to ensure that farmers are receiving top quality agricultural products and fertilisers," he said.

"We keep farmers up to date with the latest technology used in agriculture and provide two training courses to each farmer as well as brochures on agricultural issues, including the use of pesticides and fertilisers, and methods of proper irrigation and water conservation.

"The ministry also provides funding for particular agricultural projects which farmers cannot handle on their own due to lack of finance or experience." He said checks were in place to prevent substandard products from entering the market, and every product needs a phyto-certificate from its country of origin.

"The department has been able to observe closely the imports of agricultural products, which ensures that all of them are safe for farming and agricultural use." Abdul Aziz added that the department faces several drawbacks, particularly due to a shortage of technical engineers, labour and administrative personnel.

"The ministry is intensifying its attempts to protect local agricultural products by encouraging the establishment of factories and providing local products with greater facilities to become more accessible in the markets."