Advisory for paddy growers

The Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) has advised paddy growers to use pesticides in consultation with the agri-experts to avoid harmful effects of fungicides and pesticides. It urged the growers to be aware of harmful aspects of Tricycalzole (TCA), Carbendazim and Thiophanate methyl in rice crop, as residue of these agricultural medicines may negatively impact the export of rice.
In a message issued to the rice growers, the department said on Tuesday that rice is a cash crop which is not only meeting domestic food requirements but also earns foreign exchange through export. Pakistani Basmati rice is liked because of its aroma and quality all over the world but residue of fungicide may hurt the exports.
The message said that Tricycalzole is used against the blast disease of rice in Pakistan but the EU has brought down its residue level in the crop from one-milligram per kilogram to 0.01 milligram per kilogram. President Basmati Growers Association Hamid Malhi, in a meeting of the Rice Research & Development Board had raised this issue too in the recent past and proposed to create awareness among the rice farmers about the harmful aspects of Tricycalzole and carbendazim/thiophanate methyl. He also asked for promoting the alternate fungicide brands.
In the same meeting, Dr Muhammad Akhtar, Director Rice, Kala Shah Kaku, informed the participants that 118 rice samples collected from rice areas of Punjab were tested for the detection of pesticides residues and none of the tested sample showed the presence of TCA. Though, he added, Carbendazim residues were observed in 10 samples. The meeting agreed that MRLs of TCA, carbendazim or any other fungicide should be taken in consideration for not only safe rice export but also to ensure public health.
The meeting had recommended for conducting master trainings with special emphasis on PHI and MRLs of TCA/Carbendazim fungicide to put prominent red labels showing PHI value of pesticides being marketed in Pakistan as a mandatory requirement, creating awareness among the pesticide dealers about TCA/Carbendazim marketing keeping in view the EU revised MRLs and for promoting alternate fungicides for the control of rice disease instead of TCA and Carbendazim.