Hyderabad: The Telangana state government will supply organic vegetables, fruits and spices across the state to save consumers from the ill-effects of pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits coming from other states.
The TS Cabinet, which met here on Sunday, approved setting up of a horticulture corporation to encourage organic farming and procure organic vegetables, fruits and spices and supply the same across the state through rythu bazaars and the marketing department. The government has also decided to set up food processing plants on the city’s outskirts to produce organic spices and supply to consumers.
Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao and agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, who briefed the media about the Cabinet’s decisions, said that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had expressed serious concern about the high dose of chemical contamination in fruits and vegetables and directed ministers and officials to step up vigilance against pesticide residues coming from other states. They said the CM had also pointed out that lakhs of tonnes of fruits and vegetables were being supplied to Hyderabad, 90 per cent stocks of which were coming from other states.
KCR wants level of pesticides cut
The Telangana state Cabinet on Sunday gave its nod to supply organic vegetables, fruits and spices across the state to save consumers from the ill-effects of pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits coming from other states.
Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao, briefing the media, said that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao asked officials to make Telangana state self-reliant in production of fruits, vegetables, flowers and spices and not to depend on other states.
He said this would also provide livelihood and employment to local people in the state.They said that the Chief Minister had asked them to put in place measures to lower the level of pesticides and to carry out field inspections to create awareness among farmers.
He asked them to ensure only safe-to-eat vegetables and fruits are available in our markets.
Mr Srinivas Reddy said the horticulture department was currently taking up production of fruits and vegetables over 6.25 lakh hectares and would soon add another 4.45 lakh hectares taking the total to 10.70 lakh hectares.
