Use of harmful chemical to ripen tomatoes rampant

RAJSHAHI, Dec 6: This year the farmers in Godagari Upazila of the district have started harvesting and selling tomato and are getting fair price in the market.
But, still a section of traders are allegedly spraying harmful chemical to ripen tomatoes and are marketing those.  
The traders use Ethephon, a poisonous chemical, for ripening the tomatoes within a short time and for getting immediate profit as the price of ripe tomatoes is comparatively more than the green ones.
This poisonous chemical is very harmful for human body. It can cause various diseases like acidity, stomach pain and even there is a risk of cancer, health specialists said. But the agriculture department demanded that it is not very harmful for human body.
While visiting two big tomato markets- Basalitala Bazaar and Rail Gate Bazaar in Godagari Upazila, this correspondent found that a huge amount of tomatoes have been gathered for sale, and the traders were spraying the Ethephon over the green tomatoes. Not only Ethephon but also Dayathin group of chemical is being used to ripen the green tomatoes, it was found.
While talking with The Daily Observer, a tomato trader Abdus Salam of Natore, who came to Godagri for buying tomatoes, said, "Green tomatoes ripen within three days after the chemical is sprayed on them. At first the tomatoes are kept under sunlight and then the chemicals are sprayed. This process is continued for two to three days. The chemicals are available at all markets of the country. The tomatoes which are ripened in this way remain fresh for 15 days."
Abdul Kader, a farmer Shahabdipur Village in the upazila, said, "Farmers use the Ethepjon for ripening tomatoes within short time so that the supply of tomatoes in the markets remains stable. If we do not use the chemical, the tomatoes get rotten very quickly and we have to incur losses. If we don't use the chemical, then it takes over 15 days for ripening tomatoes and birds eat up huge tomatoes from the fields."
Medical Officer at Civil Surgeon Office Dr. Prodeep Kumar Biswas said, "The fruits and vegetables mixed with Ethephon can cause chronic diseases like kidney failure and cancer. Besides, the Dayathin is also risky for human body. We will make awareness campaign so that nobody eats these fruits and vegetables mixed with chemicals."
Upazila Agriculture Officer Tawfiqur Rahman said, "The farmers here cultivate tomato and get bumper yield every year. Tomatoes have been cultivated here on 2,630 hectares of land this year. There is a possibility of getting around 30 metric tons of tomato per hectare of land. Around 78,900 metric tons of tomato may be produced here this year."
Meanwhile, the local farmers alleged that many of them were deceived as they had to buy fake tomato seeds. As a result, tomato on 230 ha of land was damaged. Now chemicals are being used to ripen tomatoes. The local traders collect green tomatoes from the field before ripening.