IMPACT OF PESTICIDE APPLICATION ON RICE CROP: STRATGIES AND SUGGESTIONS

Abstract

Rice is the second largest foreign exchange earning commodity of Pakistan with $2 billion exports, however, at present globally it ranks fifth as the rice trade. Pakistan’s overall rice exports posted a 13.63% decline during the last two fiscal years 2020-21, due to the issues like aflatoxins, pesticide residue and also new regulations being made by various markets. It should be remembered that complaints of pesticide issue in rice consignments from Pakistan are at lower or negligible level but expected to rise in few years to detectable value. Maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides beyond permissible levels on rice are causing threat to the export competitiveness of Pakistani rice in major global markets such as the United States, European Union (EU) and Middle East. During global Covid-19 crisis, countries are becoming more cognizant of health and safety concerns. There is notable indication that interaction with pesticides is linked with immune system disorder, hormone disparities (which can possibly rise the risk for diabetes, obesity, autoimmune ailments and reproductive system complications) and foodstuff allergies. Considerable efforts must be made to examine the current status of pesticides contamination and related health issues in Pakistan.