Telangana Records Highest FSSAI Pesticide Residue Violations in Country

Telangana has recorded the highest number of fruit and vegetable samples in the country with pesticide residues exceeding permissible limits between 2023 and 2026, according to data recently tabled in the Lok Sabha.

Under the Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level (MPRNL) project, 486 out of 8,198 samples tested in Telangana, or 5.9%, exceeded the Maximum Residue Limits prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The national violation rate stood at 3.1%, with 2,223 of 70,652 samples exceeding prescribed thresholds.

Telangana was followed in violations by Karnataka, which recorded 334 non-compliant samples out of 9,176 (3.6%), and Maharashtra, with 260 out of 5,295 samples (4.9%). Gujarat and Haryana recorded 170 and 152 violations, respectively. In contrast, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh reported zero violations among the samples tested in those states.

The findings align with high pesticide consumption figures reported in the ICAR Agricultural Development 2024 report. During 2022-23, Telangana utilized 4,920 tonnes of technical-grade pesticides, equating to 0.530 kg per hectare, nearly double the national average of 0.277 kg per hectare.

Medical experts have raised concerns regarding prolonged exposure to these chemical residues. Dr Mahesh Reddy, an emergency and critical care specialist, noted that long-term exposure to excessive pesticide residues can cause neurological problems, hormonal and reproductive disorders, developmental issues in children, liver and kidney damage, and certain cancers.

Dr Kiran Madhala, professor of critical care at Gandhi Hospital, highlighted that pesticides such as chlorpyrifos, 2,4-D, dimethoate, and carbofuran are widely used across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He noted that repeated handling by farm workers increases risks of poisoning, nerve damage, and organ impairment, especially when compounded by heat and dehydration.

A 2022 PubMed Central study in Rangareddy observed dermal exposure and residues in the blood of women farmers and children, accompanied by altered acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme levels. A subsequent 2024 study covering 341 exposed individuals across 15 villages in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri, Vikarabad, and Sangareddy detected 28 pesticides in blood samples, with lower AChE levels among those exposed for over a decade.

Experts emphasized the need for stricter regulation of pesticide manufacturing, sales, and agricultural use, alongside thorough washing and peeling of produce by consumers to minimize surface residues.