PESTICIDAL RESIDUE PROBLEMS IN POTATO PESTS SUPPRESSION

Globally India ranks fifth both in area and production of potatoes by contributing 1-23 per cent of gross domestic production from agriculure and allied commodities. This ubiquitous crop is attacked by several insect and non-insect pests including nematodes in various agro-climatic zones of the country and, therefore, a lot of pesticides belonging to different groups of chemicals are being used for suppressing their population below the Economic Threshold Levels (ETLs) with the intention to minimise the damage of pests for obtaining bumper yield of pest-free potatoes. The application of such toxic pesticides in pest management programmes is associated with a lot of residues problem, especially, if their quantities remain above the Maximum Residue levels (MRL) values in potatoes. While scanning the literature on pesticides residues on/in potatoes, it was observed that the residues of chlorinated, organophosphatic and carbamatic pesticides have been estimated by various workers from different parts of the country. Such studies suggest that persistent chlorinated or cyclodiene pesticides should not be applied in soil while managing soil-pests like cutworms, white grubs, red ants, nematodes and snails/slugs as their toxic residues are long lasting. On the other hand, the pesticides belonging to other two groups referred above could be used for suppressing pest population if applied in suggested/recommended dosages/ concentrations at right time in proper manner and suggested waiting periods along with advocated storage durations and processings such as peeling followed by washing or/and washing, boiling and then peeling of potatoes for safeguarding the consumers from health hazards are strictly adhered. The article deals with the pesticidal residue problems associated in potato pests suppression from various agro-clim