Contamination at Farmer Level
It is great to see such a community of food experts, citizens and FSSAI. I would like to raise the issue about awareness and action at farmer level.
How do we identify common unsafe practices used by farmers in the crop growing process which have adverse affects in the fruits, veggies, grains we consume.
Does FSSAI have a mapping chart of the common malpractices? May be ministry of agriculture can also be invited to the circle? more
How do we identify common unsafe practices used by farmers in the crop growing process which have adverse affects in the fruits, veggies, grains we consume.
Does FSSAI have a mapping chart of the common malpractices? May be ministry of agriculture can also be invited to the circle? more
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While organic agricultural produces using traditional manures are fully safe for human consumption, using of chemical made fertilisers and pesticides begun to increase yield keeping in mind the fast growing population of the country and its need. Its a fact that the traditional manure does not have yield capacity of even 50% of the chemical fertilisers and the huge shortfall in production in the event of reverting back to our traditional ways of farming would be suicidal. However, the government should seriously be in search of modified fertilisers having no health hazards to human lives. Likewise, use of lethal pesticides & insecticides on crops including vegetables to save them from severity of insects is on increase, particularly, on unseasonable crops to extract maximum yield, as we have no mechanism of control over use of pesticides/insecticides. Likewise, farming of high-bred crops & vegetables neither having their original test nor the hygienic value, is on increase only to increase yield and meet the demand. The issue of artificially increasing the yield by feeding and injecting chemicals (specifically applicable to milk), injecting chemicals to artificially increase the size and colors of vegetables & fruits as well as chicks & goats etc., use of lethal chemicals to pre-pone fruits ripen is more hazardous to human health and should make us more concerned. Until alternatives are found out to the use of fertilisers and pesticides/insecticides and the government machinery comes down heavily on those making foods poisonous aiming to make more & more profits, there appears to have little scope to improve the situation. more
Feb 25
Every city, town and village may have a provision to farm atleast fruits & vegetables and preferring local mandi-houses to sale to avoid middlemen agencies and using of any chemical adulteration. I am in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and buying such products from RYTHU BAZAR (concept of mandi bazar) where only local farming products are preferred to sale that too in fixed rate. The fixed rate for each item is changing day by day and at the entrance one can observe the trend of that day market to buy, if required. more
Feb 25
FSSAI comes in to picture at post harvest stages for marketing. Agriculture Ministry has number is schemes to get minimal pesticidal residues in the commodities and beyond FSSAI ambit more
Feb 25
It is necessary starting from farming of food products to the distribution level and reaching to the end consumer, lots of chemical adulteration is used to commercialize the products and get quick returns. FSSAI should maintain certain standards starting from farming to reaching to the end consumers and circulate the notice through their website and/or circulate the hard copy to the concerned farmers and chain of distributions NOT TO USE ANY CHEMICAL PRODUCT TO HARM THE FRESHNESS, TASTE AND ORIGINAL SHAPE. THIS EXERCISE IS NECESSARY FOR SIX MONTHS AND THEREAFTER, ACTION MAY BE IMPLEMENTED FOR PUNISHMENT. more
Feb 24
"Customer... Beware" is the basic principle of 'Purchasing Management"... Here in Vadodara (Baroda-Gujarat), for the last many years I do not purchase Brinjal (of any variety), ever since the concept of farming BT Brinjal started... Similarly, I use raw salt (not iodized salt)... Most of the vegetables grown are one time crops.... Instead, I would prefer vegetables like Drumstick, mango, jack-fruit, etc. which are on trees of long life..... This type of possibilities are also to be explored and adopted.... Checks & balances by agencies like FSSAI, etc. shall have limitations..... more
Feb 24
