Grapes commonly available in local Indian markets have heavy amounts of pesticides, fungicides and insecticides, even surpassing international safety standards. This means they’re severely compromising the health of local consumers, says to Dr Sanjay D. Sawant, vice-chancellor of Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth. He made this statement during his address at the G.B. Joshi Memorial Lecture at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune on Sunday.
“Fruits cultivated in India need to comply more strictly to international food safety standards and must match the quality of fruits that are exported. It has come to light during the research spanning last 20 years, carried out in Nashik, Sangli and parts around Pune, that non-export grapes do not comply to any given safety standards. That is, we could trace higher residual amounts of pesticides and insecticides,” said Dr Sawant.
Yet another challenge faced while monitoring the levels of chemicals in fruit crops in India, according to Sawant, is the limited availability of advanced testing equipment and supportive skilled manpower. “Due to the lack of equipment and shortage in manpower, it is difficult to keep a vigil on chemicals that the farmers spray on the fruits,” he told.
