Agriculture: Fixing our food — the case for biopesticides

Pakistan, like other developing economies in Asia, is confronting challenges in complying with international food standards because the prevalence of aflatoxins exceeding permissible limits and synthetic pesticide maximum residue limits (MRLs) is high. Unfortunately, the agriculture and food authorities have neither established nor well-publicised these limits. Owing to a lack of awareness and proper guidance, the farming community — a majority of them illiterate or poorly literate — is unable to conform to the global standards on this issue. They either overuse synthetic pesticides or apply them too close to harvest time, not leaving enough time for residue dissipation. This results in elevated levels of MRLs in their produce.