The manufacturer of the fertilizer which prompted a
heated debate in Parliament this week, is standing firmly behind its
product.
The Government and the Opposition have been at odds since it was revealed that cheap fertilizer imported to Jamaica from the US contains human waste.
The company which the government bought the controversial fertilizer from says its product has been tried and proven and is perfectly safe.
Managing Director for Diamond R Fertilizer in the Caribbean, Alex Kaminsky says claims that his product is tainted as it contains human waste are baseless.
He says his company's fertilizer has been imported to Jamaica in the past for over 66 years.
"There is no human fecal material in our fertilizer. We abide by strict EPA guidelines of the United States of America. We are heavily, heavily regulated, this fertilizer is of very good quality,"
"This product is used widely throughout the United States very effectively and in fact we have imported fertilizer to Jamaica before and that farmers have said that it is of supreme quality,"
When questioned about concerns raised by opposition spokesman on Agriculture, Roger Clarke about the pungent smell of the fertilizer, Mr. Kaminsky said this speaks to the potency of the product.
"Perhaps there is some kind of nutrients in that is responsible for the smell. What I would say that if you have a fresh strawberry and it smells good, it must be good for you, it must be natural and healthy, well if our fertilizer smells it must be good for usage. I am not saying that the smell is sweet or pungent what I am saying that if there is a smell then it is potent," said Mr. Kaminsky.
He said Diamond R Fertilizer is still considering strengthening its linkages with Jamaica, adding that the company is willing to have experts come to the island to explain the contents of the fertilizer.
He said it was unfortunate that his company's product was being used as a scapegoat by Jamaica's parliamentary opposition.
The Government and the Opposition have been at odds since it was revealed that cheap fertilizer imported to Jamaica from the US contains human waste.
The company which the government bought the controversial fertilizer from says its product has been tried and proven and is perfectly safe.
Managing Director for Diamond R Fertilizer in the Caribbean, Alex Kaminsky says claims that his product is tainted as it contains human waste are baseless.
He says his company's fertilizer has been imported to Jamaica in the past for over 66 years.
"There is no human fecal material in our fertilizer. We abide by strict EPA guidelines of the United States of America. We are heavily, heavily regulated, this fertilizer is of very good quality,"
"This product is used widely throughout the United States very effectively and in fact we have imported fertilizer to Jamaica before and that farmers have said that it is of supreme quality,"
When questioned about concerns raised by opposition spokesman on Agriculture, Roger Clarke about the pungent smell of the fertilizer, Mr. Kaminsky said this speaks to the potency of the product.
"Perhaps there is some kind of nutrients in that is responsible for the smell. What I would say that if you have a fresh strawberry and it smells good, it must be good for you, it must be natural and healthy, well if our fertilizer smells it must be good for usage. I am not saying that the smell is sweet or pungent what I am saying that if there is a smell then it is potent," said Mr. Kaminsky.
He said Diamond R Fertilizer is still considering strengthening its linkages with Jamaica, adding that the company is willing to have experts come to the island to explain the contents of the fertilizer.
He said it was unfortunate that his company's product was being used as a scapegoat by Jamaica's parliamentary opposition.
All feeds
