Thiruvananthapuram, Agriculture Minister T Siddique on Monday said excessive pesticide residues and toxic substances were found in 58 of the 1,262 food samples tested at official laboratories in Kerala and steps would be taken to promote organic vegetable farming. Psticide residues found in 58 food samples tested in Kerala, says Minister Siddique Speaking to reporters, Siddique said the samples were tested at Agriculture Department laboratories. “When 1,262 food samples were tested in official labs across Kerala including Vellayani and Mannuthy excessive traces of pesticide residues and toxic substances were found in 58 of them. This means when we buy vegetables from a shop, we are essentially buying toxic substances for our family members. It is extremely serious,” he said. Siddique said steps would be taken to promote organic vegetable farming in view of the findings. “There are two aspects to this: one is taking steps to promote organic vegetable farming, and the second is cultivating a culture where every household transitions to farming on their own land. That is a serious matter, and the government …