Pesticide levels drop by 8 per cent over last 4 years in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The level of pesticides in vegetables, spices and condiments and dry fruits in the state has come down to eight percent from 18 over the last four years. This is revealed in the annual report- 2016 of the pesticide residue and research and analytical laboratory attached to the Kerala Agriculture University at Vellayani.

Though certain samples collected from vegetable shops, super/hyper markets and markets across the state contained pesticides, the contamination has declined.

The report released by the state government on Wednesday showed that beans, capsicum, celery, curry leaves, green chilli, ivy gourd, mint leaves, palak leaves, coriander leaves, round brinjal, cauliflower, big chilli and vegetable cowpea showed pesticide residues above the level marked by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Most of these contained cypermethrin, malathion, profenophos, ethion, dimethoate, fenvalerate etc having residue level in the range between 0.13 parts per million to 6.96. Yellow raisins also displayed between 0.3 PPM to 0.28 PPM.

The agriculture department along with KAU had decided to check the samples of vegetables, fruits, spices and condiments for pesticide residue in 2013 after a surge in their imports from neighbouring states. So far the department has granted Rs 1.75 crore towards the expenses. For each sample being tested at the residue lab, it costs Rs 4500.

Prof. Thomas Biju Mathew who heads the PRRAL told DC that he and his team of researchers were elated over the declining trend in pesticide residue.

"Kerala is the only state to have taken a bold step in regulating the pesticide level in vegetables and spreading the gospel of organic farming. If not for the efforts of the agriculture department, we would not have been able to regulate the pesticides," he said.

Pesticide residue can be removed by Veggie Wash solution developed by PRRAL and by dipping the fruits and vegetables in tamarind water for 15 minutes followed by washing in water.

Last month, agriculture director Biju Prabhkara had granted Rs 50 lakh for testing the samples. The support provided by former food safety commission T. V. Anupama and her team of officials also played a crucial role in creating awareness about pesticides.

There was a revolution in cultivating vegetables on roof tops and fallow lands by various NGOs, government offices, schools and colleges as well as residents associations.