Farmers in Bahrain have been urged to stop burning agricultural waste, as the practice can degrade soil quality and pose a fire risk to nearby buildings.
The appeal by a senior official follows a recent Interior Ministry report revealing that Civil Defence teams were dispatched to 864 locations across the kingdom in recent years to prevent fires from spreading.
Hidd Police Station head Colonel Dr Osama Bahar called on agricultural workers to adopt recycling methods wherever possible.
Speaking on the Interior Ministry’s Al Aman social media programme, he noted that the continued burning of agricultural waste stems from longstanding but misguided beliefs.
“When we were young, we thought that burning agricultural waste in Bahrain contributed to agricultural development,” said Col Dr Bahar.
“However, the reality is that this practice can actually reduce soil quality by up to 25 per cent.
“Consequently, farmers are forced to spend additional money on fertilisers and vitamins to restore the land’s fertility and promote better plant growth.”
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