World Food Policy Volume 2, Number 1, Spring 2015 | Page 69
World Food Policy
Table 2. Summary of pesticide residues found in various points of sale in 2005
Table 2. Summary of pesticide residues found in various points of sale in 2005
Supermarkets Wholesale
Retail
Organic
markets
markets
shop
75
25
25
50
of 1
6
3
0
1
% of positive 1
8
12
0
2
Total number 75
SV stalls
of samples
Number
positive
samples
samples
Source: FAVRI analyses, see Nguyen and Moustier (2006)
Conclusions
Research Institute. The quick test is used
to screen samples with excess residues
of carbamate and organophosphorus
(Ops) pesticides which are the most
dangerous neurotoxin pesticides. Then
chromatography (which is more reliable,
but 20 times more expensive) was used to
confirm and deepen the evaluation.
The results of the study are
shown in Table 2. No pesticide residue
was detected in the organic shop. Very
limited contamination was identified in
vegetables sold as SVs in supermarkets
(1%) and in shops (2%). The highest
residues were found in conventional
markets, be they formal or informal
(8% in wholesale markets, 12% in retail
markets). Hence the results suggest a
growing vegetable safety when one moves
from conventional to “safe” and organic
vegetables.
T
he paper highlights strategies
by Asian farmers to have their
quality efforts rewarded and
better recognized by consumers for the
benefit of both. The hypotheses drawn
from the literature are partly confirmed
by the fieldwork. The strategy of farmers’
getting nearer from the consumer
stage by integrating marketing stages is
efficient to reduce uncertainties related
to food safety and get higher prices. The
farmer–consumer or farmer–retailer
relationship is an opportunity to exchange
knowledge on production methods,
and this fulfills the purchaser’s need for
reassurance, as producers are perceived
as the most competent persons to give
this information. In turn, direct farmer–
consumer exchanges enable farmers to
better ascertain consumer demands.
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