Food safety in our country is still not an issue on which elections can be won or lost. One does not find this aspect in the agenda of any political party. As a result , the Govt departments authorised to take action and ensure that necessary guidelines are adhered to have little concern. In this regard Pl refer to the previous article titled ; “Food and Health are the matters of utmost concern that we cannot remain silent about”. https://www.bharatamrising.com/index.php/people-s-participation dated 03 August 21. ..
Thus, In the absence of any meaningful action on ground against contamination of Food products, the citizens are forced to purchase contaminated food items ; vegetables and fruits from the market which are a source of health hazard.
Although, the media reports are not admissible in the courts but at times we need to corroborate the same information with other findings. And when we did that, we noticed that the fears as expressed in media, are not unfounded.
Uncontrolled Use of Pesticides is a Health and Environment Hazard .
This is an acceptable and well known fact that Farmers use chemical fertilizers and pesticides for the protection of their crops and to increase the crop yield, but many of these Pesticides are potentially toxic to humans and can have both acute and chronic health effects, depending on the quantity and ways in which a person is exposed. Some of these pesticides can remain for years in soil and water.
Risk assessment for pesticide residues in food, conducted by the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), has established a safe intake level after assessing the level of risk. However, in our country, there are numerous reports which indicate that the Pesticide residues have been on a much higher side. The report clearly indicates that one of the significant causes of cancer has been Contamination of food product, which happens at various stages starting from the agricultural fields itself. However, in the absence of any concrete or rather any executable model/mechanism the contamination goes on and people continue to face health hazards.
Accumulated pesticide residues in food products have been associated with a broad variety of human health hazards, ranging from short-term effects to long term toxic effects. Food products contaminated with toxic pesticides are associated with severe effects on the human health. More than 95% of sprayed insecticides and herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, including non-target species, air, water and soil.
One can easily estimate the amount of harmful pesticides that must be getting into our stomach/ digestive system annually when we look at the survey report conducted in 2019. It said ;
An average Indian consumes approx 11.8 kg of Fruits ( Rural areas – 9.6 kg and Urban areas 15.6 kg) and 76.1 kg of vegetables( Rural areas 74.3 kgs and Urban areas – 79.1kgs). per year .
Besides the Pesticide contamination of both surface and ground waters can affect aquatic animals and plants, as well as human health when water is used for public consumption.
Pesticide residues in food and crops are a direct result of the application of pesticides to crops growing in the field, and to a lesser extent from pesticide residues remaining in the soil.
In addition to this, an increased use of pesticides resulting in contamination of the environment and the excess accumulation of pesticide residues in food products, has always been a matter of serious concern. Pesticide residues in food and crops are directly related to the irrational application of pesticides to the growing crops. Accumulated pesticide residues in food products have been associated with a broad variety of human health hazards, ranging from short-term effects to long term toxic effects. The preventive measures for pesticide residues are limited due to lack of defined government regulations and lack of appropriate mechanism.
Even Courts’ Directions Have Not Worked.
This aspect of contamination by Pesticide residue has been reported on numerous occasions by many NGOs and individuals, in the interest of public. Even Courts have taken cognizance of the same and issued directions to the Government from time to time and recommended formation of a Committee framing a policy for periodic check to detect pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits.
Since a total ban on the use of chemical pesticides is unlikely to happen in any country in the foreseeable future, ensuring health risk reduction from pesticides will depend on identifying pesticides that are human carcinogens and working out a MECHANISM that is practical and easy to implement, so that harmful pesticides do not reach our kitchens.
However, despite the Court’s directions nothing much has happened and No workable model/mechanism has been prepared by the authorised Govt agency ; FSSAI.
Conclusion.
Consequently, the contamination is still continuing. In the case of vegetables, the presence of pesticide residues in amounts more than the permissible limits is a widely reported food safety issue. The vegetables being susceptible to a large number of pests and diseases, the farmers have to resort to chemicals. They consider application of plant protection as a fast and cheaper way to save the produce and get unblemished fruits and vegetables, which would fetch better prices in the market. There are many studies indicating that the pesticide application is indiscriminate and has crossed the safe limits in India as well as in many developing countries.
The Politicians do talk about increasing the farm income but they shy away from taking steps towards indiscrete use of chemicals in agriculture , It is hence wished that we the citizens of the country compel the state to take some concrete action in this regard so that a practical and workable mechanism is implemented to put an end to this menace.
To Be Continued….
Author ; Mr Pankaj Bhatnagar has an enormous experience behind him, having spent almost 40 years in the Food and Agriculture Industry. He has served the industry for such a long period that he is well aware of its nitty gritties and the problems/challenges that Indian agriculture and the farmers face, consequently he is able to provide a Holistic view of the various aspects that have an impact on Indian agriculture and Food industry.
DISCLAIMER
Views expressed above are the author's own