Thrissur: Harmful chemicals and highly toxic pesticides have been detected in vegetables sold in Kerala, Agriculture Minister T Siddique said. He said tests conducted by the Agriculture Department at its official laboratories on 1,258 vegetable samples collected from across the State confirmed that 62 samples contained dangerously high levels of toxic substances.

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The test results also show that large quantities of hazardous chemicals are used on vegetables brought from other States. Most of the vegetables consumed daily in Kerala are sourced from neighbouring States. The excessive use of pesticides on these vegetables poses a serious threat to public health, the minister said.

The Malayali community is going through a distressing situation in which people unknowingly end up buying pesticides along with vegetables for their own families. Statistics show that Keralites spend more out of their pockets on healthcare than people in other States and also have a higher prevalence of lifestyle diseases.

Although there have been reports of pesticide use on vegetables sold in the market, the Agriculture Department's official findings have now established the extent of the contamination and its dangers. With the lack of safe food contributing to the rising incidence of lifestyle diseases, the Agriculture Department and the State government have begun urgent efforts to address the issue.

For the first time in the State's history, more than 1,200 samples have been collected and tested at government-approved official laboratories, with the findings made public.

During the previous LDF government's tenure, when V.S. Sunil Kumar was Agriculture Minister, rooftop farming received a major push. However, the initiative had been stalled over the past three or four years. The government has now launched efforts to bring children back to farming through the 'KATHIR' project, which aims to create awareness among them.

As 90% of the vegetables consumed daily in Kerala come from neighbouring States, imposing a complete ban on vegetables from outside the State is not a practical solution. An immediate ban could lead to a severe shortage of vegetables and a sharp rise in prices. The Agriculture Department, therefore, plans to address the crisis by gradually increasing vegetable production within Kerala.

Achieving self-sufficiency in vegetable production is the main way to tackle this serious problem of pesticide contamination. While local farmers in Kerala largely avoid excessive chemical use, vegetables produced in other States are reportedly sprayed with hazardous chemicals not only during cultivation but also after harvesting.

The practice of spraying chemicals is driven partly by consumer preferences. Buyers tend to reject vegetables with minor spots or blemishes, forcing traders and producers to spray them to make them look fresh and attractive.

The time has come for people to take up pesticide-free farming at home, even if they do not have enough space. Growing vegetables in 10 or 20 grow bags on rooftops or in courtyards can make a difference.

The government aims to make the initiative a success by involving not just households but also schools, IT companies and other industrial establishments in its efforts to achieve self-sufficiency, the minister said.