University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Nirita Giri
(2010):
Pesticide Use and Food Safety in Kathmandu Valley/Nepal.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Bodenforschung (IBF),
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 48.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- Chemical pesticides are excessively used by the farmers in order to meet the increasing demand for food for the fast growing population. Due to a lack of proper, continuous and efficient governmental pesticide monitoring programme, Nepalese farmers are facing severe quality related problems when exporting agricultural products like honey, tea and others in European countries. The existing situation urgently demands for the implementation of advanced and fit-for-purpose analytical procedures for accurate monitoring of pesticides in food, soil and drinking water and which would be needed for the management of the existing pesticide problem. The main objective of this study was to develop a method which would be economically feasible for analysing soil and food articles in Nepal and applying this method in selected areas of Kathmandu valley so as to investigate the impacts of commonly used pesticides as well as to investigate the awareness level of the farmers regarding pesticide use and health safety through a questionnaire survey. A total of 16 vegetables, 4 fruits, 15 soils at 10cm depth and 4 soils at 3 different depths (10cm, 30cm and 50cm) were collected on the farm of the interviewed farmers at neighbouring districts around Kathmandu. 11 tea samples also analyzed to study the level of pesticide residue. For this purpose, new analytical method was developed. The questionnaire survey showed that the awareness level among the farmers regarding pesticide use and safety was very low. The banned pesticide Ethion was found in medium and best quality tea. Also, organic tea was found to be contaminated with pesticides. Some fruits and vegetable samples were also found to be contaminated with pesticides like Ethion, Chloropyrifos, Carbendazim. Almost all the soil samples except that of Kathmandu were found to be contaminated with pesticides could be detected. The data generated from this study could be useful for understanding the present situation of the pesticide contamination level around Kathmandu.
- Beurteilende(r): Blum Winfried E.H.
- 1.Mitwirkender: Mentler Axel