Use Patterns and Residue Levels of Pesticides on Mukunuwenna, a Leafy Vegetable Grown in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Intensive use of chemical imputs such as pesticides and fertilizers as a means of expanding domestic food production in Sri Lanka began in the 1960's (Abeysekera 1988). Pesticides also showed spectacular success in control of vector borne diseases such as malaria (Fernando 1989). Because of these beneficial uses of pesticides, they were used indiscriminately both in agriculture and in public health programs.