New Delhi: Only around 3.1 per cent of 70,652 fruit and vegetable samples tested across 23 states and Union Territories were found to contain pesticide residues above the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) during the last three years, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday.
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) has been implementing the Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level (MPRNL) project since 2005-06 to assess pesticide residue levels in agricultural commodities.
Responding to a starred question in Parliament, Chouhan said samples under the project are collected through 40 participating laboratories. The test reports are subsequently shared with the agricultural departments of states and Union Territories to support awareness initiatives and training programmes for farmers on the safe and judicious use of pesticides.
The government has also introduced the National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS), a digital platform comprising a mobile application and web portal that enables real-time pest identification, surveillance and access to expert advisories. According to the minister, the system recommends the use of pesticides approved by the Registration Committee only when necessary and at the prescribed doses.
The Agriculture Ministry is also undertaking awareness and capacity-building programmes through its 48 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) and Locust-cum-Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (LCIPMCs).
Between 2021-22 and 2025-26, these centres conducted 1,353 Farmer Field School programmes, benefiting 46,969 farmers. During the same period, 680 two-day human resource development programmes benefited 37,664 farmers, while 2,384 campaigns on the safe and judicious use of pesticides reached 76,702 farmers.
The ministry also conducted 2,548 seed treatment campaigns during the period, benefiting 81,048 farmers, Chouhan said.
The government is implementing various schemes to encourage the adoption of modern agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices. It has also implemented the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for the holistic development of the horticulture sector, including the production of fruits and vegetables.
In addition, 21 states have constituted committees to monitor pesticide residues and strengthen the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices and Integrated Pest Management, with the aim of reducing pesticide residues in agricultural commodities.
(IANS)
