Analysis of Some Pesticide Residues in Cauliflower by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Bangladesh is predominantly an agricultural country with an area of 1, 47,570 sq. km. Agriculture plays an important role in the lives of Bangladeshi people. The major crops grown in the country are rice, wheat, jute, potato, sugarcane, vegetables and tea Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var Botrytis) is produced in many areas of Bangladesh. The acreage of cauliflower cultivation in Bangladesh is about 9,400 ha and the annual production amounts to about 73,000 m tons (1). Cauliflower is low in fat, high in dietary fiber, contains water and vitamin C, possessing a very high nutritional density. The warm and humid climatic condition of the country, increase use of modern high yielding varieties of crops and more use of chemical fertilizers are highly favorable for development and multiplication of pests and diseases. In Bangladesh context, the cauliflower growers have been using the pesticides frequently to have the higher yield. But the overdoses of pesticides make the residue problem, which might pollute our food and be harmful for our health. It has been reported that some of the pesticides are being used on northern part of the country where no pre-harvest time frame after application is maintained. What is most alarming is that pesticide use is very indiscriminate in Bangladesh. There are areas where pesticides are used in excessive quantities. Such situations make monitoring and assessment of pesticide contamination very difficult. Therefore, pesticide residue is becoming a major food safety concern of consumers and governments.