The success of agriculture around the world has been made possible by the use of chemicals. These chemicals, which are used in plant and animal farming to increase production, decrease food waste, and guarantee a sufficient supply of food, include pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones. The meat, fruits, and vegetables we eat every definitely contain residues from these chemicals that are harmful to us. According to studies, eating produce with a lot of pesticide residue increases your risk of developing Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and various hormonal cancers like breast, thyroid, prostrate, and ovarian cancer (Lerro et al., 2015). High levels of pesticide exposure in children can result in cancer and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); even low levels of pesticide exposure can have a negative impact on a child’s neurological and behavioural development (Liu and Schelar, 2012; Bouchard et al., 2010). According to a different study, women who are pregnant and are exposed to high pesticide levels are more likely to give birth to children who have autism spectrum disorder (von Ehrenstein et al., 2019).
The Maximum Residue Limit (MRL), defined as the highest concentration of a pesticide residue that is legally permissible in food products and animal feeds, is a standard that is used by scientists all over the world. To protect consumer health and reduce the presence of these residues in the environment, the majority of nations in the European Union, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific have established Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides used in the control of pests and diseases. Africa’s well-known exporters of perishable horticultural goods to the EU and US markets, such as South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana, have also adopted the MRL setting in order to maintain their international market. The MRL setting must be set globally to “zero” (not detectable or measureable), below a predetermined default limit (typically 0.01 mg/kg), or below the concentration of dietary intake concern (APEC, 2016).
The Food Control Act of 1993 and the Public Health Act (Chapter 63:01) of Botswana are rather inadequate or are insufficient for the establishment of a pesticide residue monitoring unit. We fully support the government’s efforts to make our nation self-sufficient in fresh horticultural produce, but a pesticide residue monitoring program is essential to ensuring that this produce is safe for consumption by both humans and animals. Not all farmers apply pesticides correctly, and some farmers spray their fresh produce with fungicides or liquid wax paraffin for the produce to have a longer shelf life. Some chemical compounds found in pesticides take a longer time for them to break down into less harmful substances, thus when consumed in these harmful state, it is detrimental to our health.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a US-based environmental advocacy group, compiles a list of the 12 horticultural perishables with the highest pesticide residues each year, dubbed “the Dirty Dozen.” Strawberries, spinach, kale (collard and mustard greens), nectarines, apples, grapes, bell and hot peppers, cherries, peaches, pears, celery, and tomatoes made up the dirty dozen as of 2021. 2019 saw the completion of a study on pesticide residue on horticultural perishables in the southern region of Botswana by Motswana-based researcher Gondo and colleagues. According to the study’s findings, the top five horticultural crops in Botswana with the highest MRL are rape, tomato, cabbage, carrot, onion, and tomato. On our local horticultural produce, they also reported finding high residues of Chlorofenapyr, Cypermethrin, Chlorpyrifos, Dimethoate, and Profenophos which are active ingredients in pesticides. Local newspapers reported earlier this month that since the import ban was put in place, Botswana has been able to supply around 70% of the country’s demand for tomatoes and potatoes. In order for our horticultural products to be accepted for export in the near future and to avoid a catastrophe for producers, a pesticide residue monitoring program supported by legislation MUST be established. Although consumers have no control over the pesticides sprayed on horticultural produce, we can lessen their effects by;
- Washing: using vinegar, lemon juice, salt water, or bicarbonate of soda. Cole crops requires careful washing, especially in between the leaves.
- Blanching: steaming or submerging horticultural perishables in hot water for at least 5 minutes. In order to melt the paraffin wax that is used to coat apples and extend their shelf life, apples must be blanched.
- Peeling; in addition to apples, other horticultural perishables such as mangoes, carrots, and potatoes can also be peeled.
