Lok Sabha Question No. 1312 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-18
Subject: High Level of Pesticides in Vegetables, Fruits, Meat and Spices
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, ANANDRAO  ADSUL, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, DHARMENDRA YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1312 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  18 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## HIGH LEVEL OF PESTICIDES IN VEGETABLES, FRUITS, MEAT AND SPICES

1312.     SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received complaints with regard to having more than the prescribed level of pesticides in vegetables, fruits, meat and spices;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  news  reported  with  referece  to  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers Welfare stated that the level of pesticides residue in vegetables, fruits, meats and spices has increased to double the prescribed standards in the last six years;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  directives  in  this  regard  and  has  also formulated any scheme to take action against the farmers using pesticides more than the prescribed limit and using chemicals to artificially increase the size of vegetables and other food products; and
- (e) the details of the steps taken to prevent such produce from entering the market?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी ( SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a)  to (e): The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing 'Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level' (MPRNL) scheme, under which food commodities are collected  and  analyzed  for  the  presence  of  pesticide  residues.    During  2012-18,  a  total  of 1,21,944 samples have been collected and analyzed, out of which 2,878 (2.4 %) samples were  found  exceeding  Food  Safety and  Standards  Authority of  India ( FSSAI)   Maximum

Residue  Level  (MRL).  The  details  of  the  vegetables,  fruits,  meats  and  spices  samples analyzed in the last six years is at Annexure I. There is no report with this Ministry that levels of pesticides residue in vegetables, fruits, meats and spices have increased to double of the prescribed standards in the last six years. The annual reports of MPRNL are shared with the States for taking corrective measures. In addition, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare is propagating Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as an alternative  to  chemical  pesticides.  Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM)  is  an  ecological approach which aims to keep pest population below economic thresholds level by employing available alternate pest control strategies and techniques viz. preventive measures, cultural, mechanical  and  biological  control.  The  Department  has  established  35  Central  Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) across the Country. These CIPMCs, inter alia, conduct Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) to sensitize farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, and safe and judicious use of chemical pesticides as a last resort as per approved labels and leaflets. Furthermore, Regular advisories on pest management are being shared with  the  States  for  their  timely  dissemination  to  the  farmers  through  their  extension functionaries. The State Governments through various forums such as Zonal Conferences and  National  Conference  are  requested  to  exhort  their  extension  functionaries  to  educate and impart training to farmers on efficacious and sustainable pest management strategies and approaches.

## Details of vegetable samples analysed under MPRNL (2012-18)

| Year        |   No. of samples analysed | No. of samples above FSSAI MRL   |
|-------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2012-13     |                      7570 | 207 (2.7%)                       |
| 2013-14     |                      7591 | 192 (2.5%)                       |
| 2014-15     |                     10593 | 306 (2.9%)                       |
| 2015-16     |                     12035 | 329 (2.7%)                       |
| 2016-17     |                     11955 | 256 (2.1%)                       |
| 2017-18     |                     12821 | 246 (1.9%)                       |
| Grand Total |                     62565 | 1536 (2.5%)                      |

## Details of fruits samples analysed under MPRNL (2012-18)

| Year        |   No. of samples analysed | No. of samples above FSSAI MRL   |
|-------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2012-13     |                      2031 | 21 (1.0 %)                       |
| 2013-14     |                      2235 | 31 (1.4 %)                       |
| 2014-15     |                      2239 | 40 (1.8 %)                       |
| 2015-16     |                      2364 | 27 (1.1 %)                       |
| 2016-17     |                      2173 | 58 (2.7 %)                       |
| 2017-18     |                      2274 | 25 (1.1 %)                       |
| Grand Total |                     13316 | 202 (1.5 %)                      |

## Details of meat samples analysed under MPRNL (2012-18)

| Year        |   No. of samples analysed |   No. of samples above FSSAI MRL |
|-------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2012-13     |                       439 |                                0 |
| 2013-14     |                       435 |                                0 |
| 2014-15     |                       444 |                                0 |
| 2015-16     |                       402 |                                0 |
| 2016-17     |                       417 |                                0 |
| 2017-18     |                       374 |                                0 |
| Grand Total |                      2511 |                                0 |

## Details of spices samples analysed under MPRNL (2012-18)

| Year        |   No. of samples analysed | No. of samples above FSSAI MRL   |
|-------------|---------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2012-13     |                      1119 | 93 (8.3 %)                       |
| 2013-14     |                      1160 | 100 (8.6 %)                      |
| 2014-15     |                      1299 | 106 (8.2 %)                      |
| 2015-16     |                      1390 | 86 (6.2 %)                       |
| 2016-17     |                      1592 | 87 (5.5 %)                       |
| 2017-18     |                      1858 | 150 (8.1 %)                      |
| Grand Total |                      8418 | 622 (7.4%)                       |

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