Paraquat will never be reintroduced, Agriculture Minister Mahendra Reddy told Parliament this week.
He was responding to Opposition MP Aseri Radrodro’s request to Government to review the ban on paraquat because farmers in Naitasiri, Namosi, Tailevu and Vanua Levu were facing difficulties in maintaining their dalo, yaqona and cassava farms.
“That is not going to happen, no way,” Mr Reddy said in response.
“We have made a decision last year.
“I think it was the year before last, now we have got about more than 24 months of experience and there are no issues.
“There are some farmers who are psychologically stuck with paraquat Gramoxone and they think that there is no other alternative but we have provided them with alternatives.”
He said he was very concerned about the effect of paraquat.
“It’s residue on human health and also directly and indirectly through the residues on the produce which people are consuming.
“If you just Google the impact of paraquat consumption on human health, you will find a number of referee journal articles who have proven that there is a direct negative impact of Gramoxone consumption through its residue on human health, Mr Speaker, Sir.
“That is why you will find now there is a large number of cases of cancer. So that is not going to happen.”
