Telangana reports 486 pesticide samples above MRL, others report zero

The question asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to state whether the government has assessed excessive pesticide use and residue levels in produce, and to detail the mechanisms for monitoring, promoting Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and enforcing safety standards.

Asked and answered by: Asked by Dr. Bhola Singh; Answered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan).

What the government said

• The 'Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level' (MPRNL) project has been implemented since 2005-06.
• Between 2023-26, 70,652 fruit and vegetable samples were tested across 23 states and union territories.
• Pesticide residues exceeding Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) were detected in 2,223 samples (3.1% of the total).
• Traceability is ensured by recording GPS coordinates of sample collection points, particularly for farm-gate samples.
• 48 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) conduct training, including 1,353 Farmers Field School programmes and 2,548 Seed Treatment Campaigns between 2021-22 and 2025-26.
• The National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS), an AI/ML-based platform, was launched to provide real-time pest identification and promote bio-control.
• The MPRNL project continuation has been approved until 2028-29.
• 21 states have constituted committees for monitoring pesticide residues and implementing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
• FSSAI is the nodal agency for setting science-based MRLs and regulating food safety under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Also in the document

• The answer provides specific state-wise data showing that Telangana had the highest number of samples above MRL (486), while Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh reported zero samples above MRL.
• The government states that the MPRNL project covers 22 states through 40 laboratories, whereas the sample collection data provided covers 23 states and union territories.