Al-Farisi writes: “The Economic Risk Index of Poisoned Crops… The economic and health dimensions of the Attorney General’s report on pesticides”

Member of the Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Ayoub Al-Farsi, wrote an article in which he stated:

This report reflects the findings of the inspection and monitoring campaign led by the Libyan Attorney General’s Office to assess the quality and safety of agricultural crops circulating in the main markets of three major cities (Tripoli, Benghazi, and Misrata). The study aims to measure pesticide residue contamination levels in food, a matter with strategic health and economic dimensions that directly affect food security and trust in local products.

Geographic distribution and scope of inspection

The monitoring campaign targeted 765 sites/main markets:

• Tripoli: 350 sites (45.75%)
• Benghazi: 221 sites (28.89%)
• Misrata: 194 sites (25.36%)

Classification of inspected crops and products

The samples covered five main groups of daily agricultural products consumed by Libyan citizens:

• Fruit crops: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, zucchini, pumpkins
• Leafy crops: lettuce, parsley, mint, cauliflower, basil, dill, coriander, chard, cabbage, arugula, green onions, spinach
• Root and tuber crops: potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, radish, turnip, garlic, onions
• Legumes: green beans, peas, broad beans
• Fruits: strawberries, oranges, dates, lemons

Statistical analysis of laboratory results (774 samples)

• Completely uncontaminated samples: 268 (34.63%)
• Contaminated samples (total): 506 (65.37%)

These contaminated samples are divided into two categories:

1. Contaminated but within permitted limits: 160 samples (20.67%)
   Do not pose a legal or direct health risk according to standards.
2. Contaminated and exceeding permissible limits (acute risk): 346 samples (44.70%)
   Legally and health-wise non-compliant samples.

Economic analysis and implications

(Economic and health risk index)

The fact that 44.70% of samples exceed permissible pesticide residue limits represents a warning signal that requires structural intervention in the agricultural and commercial sector.

The economic impacts can be summarized as follows:

• Rising healthcare costs:
  Consumption of crops with excessive pesticide residues increases chronic diseases (such as kidney failure and cancers), placing heavy pressure on the state’s healthcare budget and treatment abroad.
• Threat to local product quality and competitiveness:
  High contamination levels weaken consumer trust in local products, increasing demand for imports and negatively affecting Libyan farmers’ income.
• Barriers to exports and food security:
  These indicators prevent Libyan agricultural goods from entering strict regional and international markets (such as European and neighboring markets with strict MRL standards), depriving the economy of foreign currency revenues outside the oil sector.
• Economic waste of resources:
  Overuse or unscientific use of pesticides leads to financial waste for farmers purchasing inefficient chemical inputs, increasing production costs without real yield benefits.

Required measures

• Strengthening border and import control:
  Tightening control over imported agricultural pesticides and banning internationally prohibited compounds in coordination with the Food and Drug Control Center.
• Strict and deterrent penalties:
  Punishing those who trade with public health and threaten national food security.
• Agricultural extension support:
  Implementing national programs to train farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and rational pesticide use, including pre-harvest safety intervals.
• Traceability system:
  Linking marketed crops to their farm of origin to easily identify violators and enforce legal accountability.
• Encouraging organic farming investment:
  Providing incentives and tax exemptions for farms adopting chemical-free production to meet rising demand for safe food.