Poison up to 91.91 percent of vegetables affecting human health

 On June 18, the body from Sarlahi was found to be 64 percent more than the standard residue (obstruction percentage). The next day, on May 19, this quantity was 97.14 percent in the rye greens produced in Bhaktapur. The last time that amount was found was 91.91 percent in cauliflower produced in Hetauda on May 24

A test conducted by the Pesticide Residue Rapid Analysis Laboratory under the Ministry of Agriculture in Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market has shown such a situation of pesticide use. The amount seen in vegetables is almost three times more than the standard set by the government.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has set a standard of consumption of vegetables and fruits with less than 35 percent of pesticide residue, which is measured in barrier percentage. Similarly, in case of 35 to 45 percent obstruction, such vegetables and fruits are kept in quarantine for a few days. However, if the amount is more than 45 percent, it will be completely unfit for consumption and will have to be discarded.

According to the Central Agriculture Laboratory, the residue of the pesticide was tested in 2,580 samples of vegetables and fruits at Kalimati Laboratory from July 2018 to June 2019 alone. Of those, 46 samples were destroyed after an obstruction of more than 45 percent. The other 29 samples were found to be in quarantine condition.

According to Mohan Krishna Maharjan of the department, vegetables and fruits entering Nepal through Biratnagar, Kakadvitta, Jaleshwor, Birgunj, Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa and Dhangadhi are being tested regularly. However, vegetables and fruits produced in Kathmandu and produced in the country will not be tested in other markets of the Kathmandu Valley except Kalimati, says Raj Bhandari, senior crop protection officer at the Central Agricultural Laboratory.

The Agricultural Laboratory has been testing the pesticide residue in the vegetables and fruits entering Kathmandu through Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market by keeping the pesticide residue in the laboratory unit. According to the laboratory, up to 12 samples of vegetables are being tested daily in Kalimati.

According to Manoj Dhital, Deputy Director of Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Committee, the vegetables and fruits found to be completely unfit for consumption in the tested samples, i.e. more than 45 percent obstructed, are destroyed in the market premises. However, only 70 percent of the 850 tons of vegetables and fruits that arrive in the Kalimati vegetable market daily come to Kathmandu. The remaining 30 percent of vegetables enter Kathmandu through private importers. Vegetables coming through private, if it is an indigenous product, can be tested at any of its ports and markets

About 156 pesticides of 9 categories have been registered in Nepal under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development for use in fruits and vegetables. Of these, the Central Agricultural Laboratory is testing only two classes of pesticides including carbamate and organophosphate. According to Rajiv Das Rajbhandari, senior crop protection officer at the Central Agricultural Laboratory, two other groups could not be tested for pesticides due to lack of manpower.

In addition to these, additional tests are needed to determine the level of toxins in vegetables and fruits. But due to lack of manpower, we are worried about how to continue the current test, ”says Rajbhandari.

The government has assigned two regulatory bodies to test pesticides in vegetables and fruits: the Central Agricultural Laboratory and the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control. The Department of Vegetables and Fruits from India conducts tests at the checkpoints while the indigenous vegetables are tested at the Agricultural Laboratory

“In Kalimati, we regularly test random samples. However, in other markets, monitoring is sometimes the only option.