Chemically ripened fruit sold in Margao, Vasco markets, complain local farmers: Goa FDA seizes huge quantity of chemically ripened fruit

MARGAO, GOA: Even as the Goa FDA – in a swift operation – seized a huge quantity of chemically ripened bananas from the Mapusa market yesterday, local Goan farmers in South Goa have alleged that chemically ripened fruit are blatantly brought in from outside Goa and sold in the major markets in the South, including Margao, Vasco and Ponda.

Local farmers and fruit growers as well as residents of the concerned localities are up in arms, claiming that they are facing huge losses as the chemically ripened fruit are brought into the coastal state by the truckloads and are much cheaper than the local produce.

Most local fruit produce is organic and naturally ripened but more expensive, said Roy Dsouza from Tivim who has a mini papaya farm.

Several varieties of local Goan fruit produce are more expensive than that brought in from other States in bulk quantities. These fruits are ripened using chemicals and then sold at cheaper rates in the major markets in Goa.

Meanwhile, according to a media note, the Goa State FDA conducted a surveillance and inspection drive yesterday, at the Mapusa sub-yard to check for artificial and chemical ripening of fruits, which is illegal. During the checks a wholesale fruit shop was found to have stocked chemically ripened bananas weighing about 800 kgs. It is not known if the bananas were locally produced or brought in from another state and the names of the accused were not made known by the FDA.

Chemical liquid ethaphone which was illegally used for the ripening of the bananas was also seized from the shop and the banana stock sprayed with chemicals was destroyed with the help of the Chief officer of Mapusa Municipality, the government media note said. Sources said consumption of such artificially ripened fruits could be dangerous, particularly affecting and harming children more severely. More details are awaited as it is not known at the time of filing this report, regarding the registration of a case and the other legal action taken against the accused.

The artificially and illegally ripened banana stock destroyed by the FDA was worth approximately Rs. 65000/- in the wholesale market. In addition to the bananas, other fruit samples were drawn from the area and sent to the food laboratory for further testing, the FDA said.

FDA sources revealed such raids and surveillance drives would be undertaken all over Goa to detect artificial ripening of fruits during the season.

Residents from different parts of Goa have complained of chemically ripened mangoes brought in from other States which are being sold in Goa. FDA officials when asked said they are looking into complaints regarding chemically ripened mangoes sold in Goa by unscrupulous vendors and action will be taken in the matter.