More pesticides than fixed level in vegetables, dried fish

The presence of pesticides more than the fixed level has been found in various food products produced and marketed in the country. According to the information of the researchers, evidence of using about 10 percent more pesticides than the approved level in vegetables, 4 percent in fruits, 5 percent in dates and 10 percent in dried fish has been found.

These pieces of information were highlighted at a workshop organised by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) at SARC Agriculture Conference Room in Farmgate of the capital on Wednesday (September 23). Entomologist and Director of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) Dr Nirmal Kumar Dutta gave a speech at the workshop.

Dr Nirmal Kumar Dutta said the use of pesticides in agricultural production in the country is gradually increasing. As a result various harmful insects are creating resistance against chemical pesticides. Then the need of applying pesticides at a higher level than before is arising. At the same time the beneficial insects are also dying due to the excessive use of chemicals, as a result the spread of harmful insects is increasing further.

He informed that more than 25 new harmful insects have arrived in the country till 2016. He emphasised increasing the use of organic pesticides by reducing the dependence on chemical pesticides in agriculture to deal with this situation.

At the workshop Dr Nirmal Kumar Dutta further said about 8,000 types of pesticides are currently approved in the country. He informed that only 47 percent of the pesticides have been found 100 percent pure after verifying among them. As a result the discussion also came up that there is also a question about the quality of the pesticides available in the market.

Dean of City University Professor Dr Khandaker Shariful Islam said the farmers use pesticides to control insects. However the desired result is not being obtained due to the use of low-quality or fake pesticides. Due to this the reproduction of the insects may increase further instead of being destroyed.

Professor of the Entomology Department of Bangladesh Agricultural University Dr Mahbuba Jahan said many components of organic pesticides exist in nature itself. If its use can be increased in agriculture it is possible to control the harmful insects as well as protect the environment and the beneficial insects. She called for giving importance to protecting the beneficial insects for this.

Director of BARC Dr Md Mahfuz Alam and Chief Training Officer Al Mobassher Hossain also gave speeches at the workshop. General Secretary of Dhaka Reporters Unity Mainul Hasan Sohel, President of Bangladesh Agriculture Reporters Forum Md Nizamul Haque, General Secretary Kawsar Azam, Training Secretary Saiful Masum and the journalists working in the agriculture beat were present at the programme.