Some vegetables sold in the markets of Dar es Salaam and Arusha have been found unsuitable for human consumption due to the presence of harmful bacteria and excessive use of pesticides by farmers.
While eating vegetables and fruits is considered a healthy way to build the human body and prevent diseases, many vegetables produced are not safe for human consumption. This is because they contain bacteria that can harm people’s stomachs and pesticides that exceed the safe limit.
These concerns were raised on Monday, July 22, 2024, during an X Space discussion organized by Mwananchi in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center (TFNC). The discussion focused on important considerations in the preparation and consumption of vegetables and fruits.
Speaking at the discussion, Jeremiah Sigalla, an expert from the World Vegetable Center, stated that their inspection revealed that some vegetables in the markets of Arusha and Dar es Salaam were dirty and posed a health risk to consumers. He noted that their research found these vegetables had high levels of harmful stomach bacteria.
According to Sigalla, the high demand for vegetables in urban areas contributes to unsafe production environments. He emphasized the importance of educating farmers about the proper use of chemicals to maintain the safety of these vegetables. He highlighted that certain chemicals and fertilizers, known as “busters,” contribute to the damage. He explained that while technology is advancing, improper use of this technology by uninformed farmers affects production and safety.
Food researcher and expert Martin Kimanya stated that consuming contaminated vegetables with chemicals is equivalent to not having them at home. He pointed out that the major issue in the country’s vegetable sector is contamination due to improper use of pesticides. Kimanya added that many farmers want to increase production but do so in unsafe ways, lacking knowledge about appropriate pesticides.
Professor Kimanya mentioned that the issue is exacerbated by the fact that some pesticides available in the market are banned elsewhere but still used locally. Farmers often lack proper methods for using these chemicals safely. The problem’s severity is due to three main factors: farmers using unauthorized pesticides without knowing the correct usage, agricultural officers being unable to reach farmers effectively to provide proper guidance, and inadequate control over the pesticides available in the market.
Lucas Malembo, Director of Malembo Farm, highlighted the shortage of agricultural officers, citing a 2017 study by the Independent Agricultural Platform (ANSAF) that showed 48% of the 15,082 registered villages in the country lacked sufficient agricultural officers. This shortage contributes to the unsafe production of vegetables. Malembo pointed out that improper pesticide use results from many farmers lacking agricultural business education. The 2019/2020 agricultural census showed that only 2% of farmers use pesticides.
However, Professor Kimanya advised washing and peeling fruits before consumption to reduce chemical residues, although this may also reduce some nutrients.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Esther Nkuba, Director of Nutrition Education and Training at TFNC, emphasized the importance of fruit consumption, noting that the human body needs more than 50 nutrients daily. She stated that eating fruits at any time of the day, whether morning, afternoon, or evening, is beneficial and does not create toxins when combined.
Professor Mohammed Janabi, Director of Muhimbili Hospital, recommended eating whole fruits instead of drinking juice to reduce sugar intake. He also advised consuming food instead of supplements, as they cannot replace the nutritional value of real food.
Dr. Omar Ally Amir, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture in Zanzibar, stated that efforts are being made to reach farmers to ensure safe production of vegetables and fruits for consumers. They are also promoting organic farming without pesticides to ensure safe produce.
