Farmers aren’t sticking to protocol

Som Mudulay is correct about the burning of cane and subsequent pollution (‘Come on farmers, have a heart’, Courier, September 13).

He is correct. Nobody has the right to pollute the environment, especially at the cost of others. Home owners are particularly affected.

At the risk of becoming somewhat unpopular with the farming community I must say that they simply do not care, and certainly do not adhere to the cane burning protocol.

Approaching the Sugar Association is a waste of time. The way to control the burning of cane lies in charging those farmers who insist on this unnecessary method of harvesting, higher municipal rates. This additional income should then be credited back to all other rate payers who are currently disadvantaged. All home owners, shopping centres and industrial areas will at least receive some compensation. Some farmers may even stop burning.

This is entirely possible and would be a simple accounting exercise. The council should consider the matter when structuring the next budget.

This issue has been a contentious one for years, and farmers need to recognise that it is not acceptable in what is now an urban area, or in fact anywhere.

DENNY MOFFATT

Salt Rock