Vegetables produced within the State is now safer to eat when compared to the situation last year, according to Kerala Agricultural University (KAU).
A KAU press note here on Saturday said the latest test reports from pesticide residue testing laboratory at Vellayani under KAU showed that 99 per cent of the vegetables produced by Kerala farmers was safe to eat as they do not contain any hazardous chemicals.
The only exception was some of the vegetables produced in some areas of Thiruvananthapuaram district as some samples of amaranthus, chilly, bittergourd, snakegourd and cowpea contained pesticide residues above permitted levels.
The tests were conducted on samples collected from farmers’ in various districts during the first half of 2014.
No residuesNotably, the vegetable samples collected from Kasaragod and Idukki, the districts once under the scanner for alleged indiscreet use of chemicals, were found to contain no pesticide residue at all.
The press note quoted Thomas Biju Mathew, under whose supervision the testing procedure takes place, as saying that the pesticides found in the vegetable samples were chloreperifos and cunalfos.
“After the testing process and analysis of results, we also advise the farmers to avoid indiscreet use of pesticides and insecticides and stick to scientific practices for effective pest and disease management. The latest results vindicate the after effect of farmers adhering to our advice,” he said.
The press note also quoted KAU vice chancellor P. Rajendran as saying that the positive development was the result of increased public awareness on the need to produce, buy and eat safe food.
“The persistent efforts of our pesticide residue lab and publication of test results have made the producers and buyers more and more conscious about the importance of safe food and need to adhere to scientific practices. Popularisation of homestead farming modules have also helped.
KAU’s lab also offers free testing of vegetables produced by farmers. They only have to bring one kg each of the vegetables packed in materials other than plastic along with a certificate from the agricultural officer of the Krishibhavan,” the press note quoted him as saying.
