Pesticide residues in farm gate vegetable samples in Bihar

Sixty four samples of farm gate vegetables namely brinjal (18), okra (15), cauliflower (11), cabbage (8) and green chilli (12) were collected from farmer's fields in three districts of Bihar during 2003–04 and analysed for residues of different pesticides appijed for insect pest management. About 69% of samples were found contaminated with organochlorine, organophosphate and synthetic pyrethroid group of pesticides and only 11% of these contained residues were above respective MRLs. Cypermethrin was found to be the main contaminant in vegetables.