BY IAN KAUKUI
A LOCAL Market vendor,Stephany Ramo in Honiara has confirmed the use of chemical on her produce before selling them at the market.
The vendor revealed that currently in Honiara Market vendors are practicing the use of chemicals in their fruits and other products before selling them at the market.
Speaking in an interview with the Solomon Women, Stephany revealed the disturbing truth behind the unnecessary practice.
Solomon Women Newspaper (SWN): Do you have any idea and knowledge about the use of chemicals on crops?
Stephany Ramo (SR): Yes, because I was one of them who uses the chemical on my produces before selling.
SWN: What sort of local produce do you use the chemical on and what is the name of the chemical?
SR: I don’t even know the name of the chemical but I use them on my pawpaw and selling of fruits.
SWN: How do you get the chemicals?
SR: I buy them at $50.00 per bottle (the size of the small Szeba bottle) at the Fishery market and sometimes from the Central Market.
SWN: What is the main aim of the chemical use?
SR: It helps to make the fruits to ripe faster “Pawpaw en banana savve raep qwick taem lo hem.”
SWN: Explain how you use the chemical?
SR: I mix the chemicals in a big dish of water and wash the fruits one by one. After that I place them in another dish for two days before taking them to the market.
SWN: Are there any reactions when handling the chemical?
SR: Yes, it feels very hot even though I wore gloves.
SWN: What really drives you to use the chemicals?
SR: Because it helps me to make quick sales and also it gives a fresh yellow colors to attract customers to buy n Do you think other local farmers use the chemical? Yes, I have seen a lot of vendors both in and out of Honiara who are using it
SWN: Who sells those chemicals to you?
SR: I don’t really know but we were told some women from PNG are selling them to us.
SWN: Do you have any more information about the chemicals?
SR: We heard that Chinese shops are also selling those chemicals but I’m not really sure which ones. Their prizes are also getting higher due to the demand.
SWN: Do you have any idea about the health risk the chemical might cause?
SR: No. I don’t know anything about health risk but I think it might have same bad effects.
SWN: Do you seek any advice from our Government’s Ministry of Agriculture?
SR: No, the only thing I was told was to use gloves when doing the washing.
SWN: How was the taste of a fruit using chemical?
SR: The one without the chemicals taste fresh and sweet.
