Pesticide abuse increases health risks

Farmers in Moulivibazar’s Kamalganj upazila are using pesticides in their winter vegetable fields twice a week, disregarding health guidelines.

Experts say excessive use of pesticides contaminates produce and poses serious risks to human health.

However, the use of pesticides has increased significantly in the cultivation of winter vegetables like tomatoes, beans, cauliflower and cabbage in the upazila, an agricultural hub.

However, many farmers, especially those growing hybrid tomatoes, apply different pesticides to their fields twice a week, exceeding the prescribed amount.

Usually, vegetable farmers aim to harvest their crops before the usual winter crops hit the markets for better pay.

During a recent visit to Adampur, Madhabpur and Islampur unions, this correspondent saw farmers cultivating winter vegetables like beans, cauliflower, cabbage, brinjal, gourd on a large scale bitter and hybrid tomatoes.

Nurul Muhaimin Milton, general secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, Moulvibazar unit, said pesticides should be applied every seven to 10 days, but greedy farmers spray the insecticides even twice a week.

He said various companies sell pesticides and farmers use them in their fields to combat fungus or insect attacks without considering the negative impact on public health.

According to the Kamalganj Agriculture Office, winter vegetables were cultivated in a total of 1,717 hectares of land in the upazila.

Among vegetables, tomatoes alone were cultivated in 280 hectares in areas such as Alinagar, Adampur, Madhabpur, Tilakpur, Jamirkona, Homerjan, Patrakhola, Dhalai Par and Narendrapur.

Farmers Akhtar Mia and Mobasshir Ali said growing hybrid tomatoes requires a high volume of fertilizers and pesticides to combat insect attacks.

Shamsuddin Ahmed, deputy director of Agricultural Extension Department (AED), Moulvibazar, said his department regularly advises farmers on the importance of applying fertilizers and fungicides within the prescribed limit.

Pesticides should be used every 15 days or as prescribed by agriculture officials, he said, adding that they encourage farmers to apply organic methods such as pheromone traps to control pests and organic fertilizer in vegetable fields.

Dr Mahbubul Alam, health and family planning officer at Kamalganj Upazila, said excessive use of pesticides could lead to serious health problems, such as kidney, lung or eye diseases.