In order to detect the presence of dangerous pesticides in their vegetables, the Agriculture Department in Kerala, India will open four high-tech laboratories in the state, said minister for agriculture V S Sunilkumar.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he also said the presence of dangerous pesticides is there in the vegetables coming from other states and some farmers in Kerala also illegally bring the pesticides banned here, from other States.
The minister also said new-generation pesticides are being used nowadays and serious study is needed to detect their composition and the gravity of danger.
As of now, the pesticide testing is done at the laboratory in National Institute of Plant Health Management, Hyderabad, and it is a time consuming process. Once the new laboratories, to be set up in Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kasaragod, become a reality, the checking can be done in one to three hours, he said.
