Pesticide traces high in spinach, strawberry

A new report has cited crops with the highest amounts of pesticide residue.

According to the report based on produce samples tested by the US Department of Agriculture, strawberries and spinach contained the highest amounts of pesticide residues.

The report cited in Time magazine by the Environmental Working Group, a US lobby, also lists nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery and potatoes among fruits with high chemical build up.

Time to wait after spraying

.

Keep Reading

• Ditching maize for bananas
• Call to shift from pesticides, plastics to alternatives
• Regulator to register avocado packhouse dealers in crackdown
• State told to empower youth through agriculture investments

But what is the situation locally? In Kenya, pesticide residue in produce is a great concern for farmers given that most growers use pesticides without precision or guidance from experts.

John Wambugu, an agronomist at Wambugu Agricultural Training Centre, says since there has not been a proper and detailed study like the US one, it may be tricky identifying fruits that have the most pesticide residue.

But still, there are measures farmers can embrace to minimise pesticide residue. First, post-harvest intervals should be observed.

This is the time a farmer should wait before they harvest after they have sprayed the chemical on the crop.

“It is important to stick to the recommended post-harvest interval, some require you to wait for three days to harvest, others seven days. It depends on the instructions,” Wambugu says.

How healthy is the fruit?

The stage of a crop’s growth is also important to note before spraying the produce.

“Young plants have stronger skins which means less of the chemicals can penetrate the fruit while older fruits have weaker skins and when exposed to pesticides are likely to have more residue,” Wambugu explains.

The general health of the fruit also matters. Bruised and infected fruits and vegetables are likely to absorb more pesticide than healthy ones. The type of fruit also determines the amount of pesticide build-up. Succulent fruits absorb more than those less fleshy produce: For instance, a strawberry will absorb more chemical than a guava.

As a responsible measure, farmers should read and follow manufacturer’s instructions.

Use of the right chemical proportions recommended by the manufacture, also helps. “If the container says 3ml for 20 litres of water, please mix the pesticide to these specifications,” Wambugu says.

To reduce pesticides residue, farmers can also apply Integrated Pest Management.

This entails using biological methods, such as introduction of ladybirds, to ward off pests, also companion cropping, where you plant crops that repel certain pests can be planted on the farm.

.

Keep Reading

• Successful Cucumber farming on leased land - Youth in Agriculture
• From humble beginnings to producing Cherry Tomatoes sustainably - Youth in Agriculture
• Climate smart water management and sustainable development for agriculture
• A tree planting generation that is passionate about climate