Awareness campaigns and organic farming initiatives seem to be yielding result. Vegetables produced in Kerala for Onam have been found safe and devoid of excess residue of hazardous chemicals, according to a special analysis report from Kerala Agricultural University’s (KAU) Pesticide Residue Research Analytical Laboratory (PRRAL) at Vellayani.
A report by the KAU says that 100-odd samples each of melon, cucumber, yam, snake gourd, brinjal, okra, tomato, and onion were collected from vegetable shops across the State. Majority were found to be safe.
One sample of green chilly produced by farmer’s groups in Thrissur district, one sample of bitter gourd collected from eco shops in Alappuzha district and one sample of curry leaf in a Thiruvananthapuram shop contained residues of banned pesticides. However, majority of vegetables produced by farmer cooperatives, self help groups and residential colonies have been found safe to eat.
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Yet, vigil on vegetables brought from other States would continue, said Thomas Biju Mathew, Head, PRRAL, Vellayani.
He said that keeping items like curry leaf, green chilly and coriander leaves immersed in purification agents like 2% vinegar solution, 1% turmeric powder solution or ‘Veggy Wash’ for 10 minutes, followed by thorough washing, would help remove up to 70% of residues from their surface.