THE lush padi fields of Kedah and Perlis hide a dirty and potentially harmful secret. A secret that is on the plate of every Malaysian who eats local rice.

For the past six to seven years, rice growers throughout the two states have been pouring illegal pesticides smuggled from China on their crops to weed out siput gondang (golden apple snails)

Though there are no conclusive studies to prove it is harmful to consume rice produced using the pesticide, studies have shown that the smuggled chemicals are considered a category 2 cancer-causing substance or carcinogen and highly toxic to aquatic life.  

The Malaysian Insight met eight farmers in Kedah and Perlis recently all who admitted using the pesticide, which go by the name “bai luo di” and sold under the table in the area.

The smuggled pesticide’s packet lists its active ingredient as fentin acetate 45% “wet” powder and is produced by Heben pesticide. The packet states that it is of “medium toxic level” in Mandarin.

“We’ve been forced to use this pesticide because the pesticide supplied by Mada (Muda Agriculture Development Authority) is not as effective against siput gondang,” said a farmer in central Kedah who requested anonymity.

All the padi farmers he knew in the area used it.

Mada is the agency tasked with overseeing and assisting the more than 52,000 padi farmers in the nation’s rice bowl, who supply 40% of all rice consumed in the country.

The agency admits that the use of the smuggled pesticide is a problem and is working with farmers to end the practice.

The farmers and Mada also admit that the smuggled chemical is hazardous and there are questions as to how its use can affect the food safety of the rice produced in tainted fields.  

“Mada has not done any scientific study on the food safety of the rice produced. But the safety of the rice can be affected by the excessive use of pesticides, especially those which are not registered,” the agency said in a statement.  

“According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the use of fentin acetate (the active ingredient in the smuggled pesticide) to control siput gondang is phytotoxic to padi that is grown through direct seeding. (The chemical) also stunts the growth of padi plants,” it said.

Mada said that fentin acetate can cause fertility and skin problems, and breathing difficulties to those handling the chemicals.

“Mada constantly holds awareness campaigns and combined pest control operations to curb the use of chemicals in padi farming. But the use of smuggled pesticides continues to be an issue due to factors, such as their price and effectiveness.”

Misuse of pesticides

The government hands out RM200 vouchers to padi farmers to purchase pesticides and herbicides under a padi production incentive scheme (SIPP) every season. These chemicals also include mixtures for siput gondang.

These poisons are produced by other companies and include names, such as Siputek (active ingredient niclosamide) by Ace Capital Ventures, Mostox (metaldehyde) by ACM and Bayluscide 70WP (niclosamide olamine) by Bayer.

“The improper use and incorrect dosage of these pesticides from the SIPP are the main reasons they are seen as ineffective against siput gondang,” Mada said.   

“The pesticides in the SIPP have been proven to be effective and have received approval from the technical committee on government aid to the rice and padi industry and the Pesticides Board through the Pesticide Act 1974.”

A farmer in Kedah said the Chinese pesticides are easier to use and more effective compared with the government-supplied ones.

“With the government chemicals, you have to use them seven to 10 days before you spread your seeds. But with the China ones, you can use them a day before seeding.”

The farmer admitted that this practice carried an unknown health risk to him and to consumers.

“We don’t know what’s in these poisons. So far, we as farmers have not been affected physically despite using them on our crops. But we can’t be sure they are entirely safe either.  

“The government has to do something because we have to use these pesticides.”– December 23, 2018.