Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has started a central sector scheme, “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National level” under which samples of food commodities are collected and analysed for the presence of pesticide residues. The detail of samples analysed during the year 2015-16 is given below.
DETAILS OF THE SAMPLES ANALYSED DURING THE YEAR 2015-16
| S.No. | Commodity | Samples Analyzed | Samples found above FSSAI MRL |
| 1. | Food Grains (Rice and Wheat ) | 1955 | 157 (8%) |
| 2. | Vegetables | 11551 | 339 (2.9%) |
| 3. | Fruits | 2358 | 30 (1.27%) |
The Government is implementing “Strengthening and Modernization of Pest Management Approach in India” through 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) of Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage established across the country with an aim to promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach . CIPMCs inter alia, produce biological agents for release in the fields, conserve natural bio-control agents, promote bio-pesticides as an alternative to chemical pesticides and advocate judicious and safe use of chemical pesticides as a last resort. These activities are implemented through Farmers Field Schools (FFSs), 2 days and 5 days training programmes and season long training program for State Agriculture Extension officers and
NGOs/Private Bodies. A ‘Grow Safe Food’ campaign has been initiated to carry the message of safe and judicious use of pesticides to farmers and other stakeholders. A simple message related to five essential principles of judicious pesticide use – application of pesticides on the right crop, against pests for which the pesticide has been approved, at the right time, in approved doses, and as per approved method of application – is sought to be disseminated in regional languages in Gram Panchayats and rural areas. Package of practices for control of pests and diseases in 79 crops have been revised to include techniques to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and encourage use of bio-pesticides and other alternative plant protection measures.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Sudarshan Bhagat today in a written reply to a Lok Sabha question.
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