Saturday, October 06, 2007 Local governments’ help sought to monitor use of pesticides By Jane Cadalig
LOCAL government units (LGUs) in Cordillera are urged to help in advocating for the proper use of chemicals among farmers to ensure that products sold to the market are free from pesticide residues.
The Bureau of Plant and Industry (BPI) is calling for a collaborative effort in the monitoring of pesticide use to ensure the safety of consumers.
Adoracion Ceniza, chief of BPI’s Pesticide Center and Residue Laboratory, said some vegetables sold in the markets contain pesticide residues.
She was however quick to add that the pesticide remains is below the maximum residue limit. Still, she asked local governments to help advocate for the proper use of chemicals among farmers.
Ceniza said 17 percent of the 132 crops sampled by the agency last year contained pesticide residue while 82 percent were free from any chemical remains. The sampled vegetables came from the different provinces in the region.
"But this is below the maximum residue limit. The crops contained about 0.02 or 0.07 parts per million pesticide residue," she said.
Figures for the tolerable residue limit were not immediately determined. Ceniza said the allowable residue amount varies with the kind of pesticide used by the farmers on their crops.
Ceniza said the center monitors about 23 different kinds of pesticides used in one of the agricultural commodities.
To ensure consumers and farmers’ safety, Ceniza said farmers should observe and practice the proper use of chemicals.
With the growing number of consumers who are becoming health conscious, a number of farmers are now shifting from chemical-based farming to organic agriculture.
In La Trinidad, Benguet, organic vegetable growers have formed an association that is now supplying some restaurants in Baguio City with their chemical-free vegetable produce.
