Calls to stem overuse of pesticides by Indian mango growers in the Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi districts are being drowned out by the suggestions of chemical traders, according to a report by the Daily Star.
Mango growers in the two districts are averaging 20 sprayings of pesticides and other chemicals throughout the season, almost seven times the level recommended by experts.
“We suggest using pesticides only three times; after flowering, when fruits take the size of grams and then at its marble-size,” said Mohammad Mofazzal Hossain, horticulturist of Kalyanpur Horticulture Centre in Chapainwabganj.
Lax government monitoring and poor grower education mean the chemical over-application, done for ‘protection and better yield’, faces few hurdles.
The overuse is also being pushed by chemical traders, who give growers spurious advice on application of the chemicals, the report said.
“We spray these first before flowering for washing the trees, again when fruit appears and then once in every week till harvest,” Shahidul Islam of Sankarmaria in Kansat told the Daily Star.
“As per suggestion from pesticide traders, we spray even the day before plucking fruits for marketing,” he said.
That suggestion counters advice from experts like Mr Hossain, who said fruit should not be consumed within 15 days of pesticide application.
“Traders lure growers to overuse pesticides by providing them on credit and it overpowers our limited outreach efforts,” said Jamir Uddin, a senior scientific officer of the Regional Horticulture and Research Station.
The report said a range of chemicals were in use in the region, such as brands like Noin, Carbendazime, Aimcozim, Cartap Hydrochloride and Overmethrin, which contains Cypermethrin.
Eating heavily-sprayed food can result in a number of serious health problems, including cancer, hypertension and birth defects.
