the farmers to get their crops tested but nobody stepped forward. The price of these tests is currently $235 which the farmers deem too high. “A farmer can pay SRD 9,000 to buy pesticides that are sprayed on his crops but he cannot pay SRD 9,000 to get his product tested?”, said the UGA in response. Local farmers also find it hard to believe that Suriname has the tools to conduct these tests which is why they wonder why these tests are being offered at a price. The UGA explained on its Facebook page that the Viskeuringsinstituut can conduct tests that detect 40 types of pesticides. “The fact that farmers do not want to opt for the tests is another story. It shows that they are not willing to be open about their production process and the safety of their product,”, said the UGA. The UGA made it clear that the quality and the safety of the products from farmers must be guaranteed at all times. “There are safety standards that must be met. We simply cannot look the other way. That is why we are calling on the farmers to get their products tested for residuals from pesticides. Unfortunately we have received zero response. It is as if everybody is only interested in the list of prices. Our organization cannot only serve the interest of one party. The consumer is also important because the consumer is the one that uses the agrarian product in the end”, said the UGA.