At the present time, most of vegetables and fruits have been imported from neighboring countries like Vietnam and Thailand. Most of vegetables have been sprayed by pesticides and chemicals, harming the people’s health. The cost of chemical vegetable is lower than organic vegetables that are planted by Cambodian farmers. Therefore, Cambodian farmers’ products cannot compete with the imported products.
Authorities stationed at the border checkpoints should strictly control and ban the import of chemical vegetables and fruits which are plaguing the people’s health. The government should encourage farmers to grow organic vegetables and finds the local market for them. In addition, the import of chemical vegetables should not be allowed to import within domestic market.
As I know most of vegetables and fruits used pesticides and chemicals have not been allowed to be on sales in their countries. The fruits and vegetable used pesticides are only for export to the countries without strict control such as Cambodia because of the corruption and bribery.
We, consumers, should be careful of our own health and should stop buying chemical-imported vegetables and fruits, and help purchase Cambodian’s farmers’ products in order to improve Cambodian’s living standards. If we buy imported products, it means that we are helping neighboring people.
Stop using chemical products and use domestic productions instead of helping improve Cambodian farmers.
Food safety is a major problem, yet no one seem to care
I do not think most Cambodian veggies are free from chemicals. Our government is also unable to control the domestically produced agricultural products. Banning imports is a good solution, but the exports should be properly taxed.
I think it would be in Cambodia’s best interest to go organic and use natural fertilizer instead of chemicals as it would have long lasting effects on the people’s health. The problem with the Cambodian govt is that there is barely any regulations on anything other than the lining of their wallets.
Great post!