Sumatra farmers blamed for smothering smoke in Singapore, Malaysia

Washington: The recent choking smoke in Singapore and parts of Malaysia has been blamed on the small- and large-scale farmers in Sumatra.

Indonesian scientists have added a third category of ``mid-level entrepreneurs`` who buy unregulated access to land for oil palm in Riau province. These entrepreneurs clear the land by burning, seemingly unrestrained by the government.

Scientists at the World Agroforestry Centre said that policies need to be adjusted to deal with the newly-identified group, if the annual fires and subsequent haze are to be reduced.
About half of the fire ``hot spots`` in Riau province are on land with illegal activities in areas which have been slated for conservation or non-production.

ANI