Weeding out bad apples to save the orchard
Updated: 2012-07-04 08:48
By Zheng Xin (China Daily)
|
|||||||||
Chemicals pose risks
Wang Jingyan, a fruit tree expert at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said pesticide abuse is now rampant in villages, with little consideration being given to the potential risk to human health.
"An excessive amount of chemicals causes cancer (among consumers) and also damages the soil and poses health risks to farmers," he said. "Yet, as plant diseases and agricultural pests become more resistant to chemicals, farmers simply use even greater doses to guarantee their outputs."
China is the world's largest producer and consumer of chemical fertilizer, using more than 50 million metric tons every year, four times the amount in the 1980s.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has found that in Northeast China alone, the average level of organic matter in arable soil, a crucial index in determining crop yield, is 1 to 5 percent, compared with 8 to 10 percent in the 1950s.
"Farmers are just not willing to stop relying on agrochemicals, so it's up to local authorities to provide more education to ensure they do," Wang said.
Sun at Agvalue agreed and said that the lack of professional guidance for farmers is the biggest obstacle to individuals and governments adopting scientific management techniques.
"It's never an easy task to persuade farmers to stop poor farming practices and adopt advanced measures," he added. "But it's always worth trying."
Contact the writer zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn
- China vows to improve food safety in 3 years
- Safety the priority for exports to HK
- Yurun Food denies contamination allegation
- New alliance will bolster safety of food
- Balcony farmers are taking root
- China spots 15,000 illegal food cases
- Food safety training courses launched
- Food safety is top item on the menu
Relief reaches isolated village
Rainfall poses new threats to quake-hit region
Funerals begin for Boston bombing victims
Quake takeaway from China's Air Force
Obama celebrates young inventors at science fair
Earth Day marked around the world
Volunteer team helping students find sense of normalcy
Ethnic groups quick to join rescue efforts
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|
![]()
|
Today's Top News
Health new priority for quake zone
Xi meets US top military officer
Japan's boats driven out of Diaoyu
China mulls online shopping legislation
Bird flu death toll rises to 22
Putin appoints new ambassador to China
Japanese ships blocked from Diaoyu Islands
Inspired by Guan, more Chinese pick up golf
US Weekly
![]()
|
![]()
|