The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture is running a central sector scheme, "Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level" in food commodities and environmental samples since 2005-06 with the participation of various laboratories representing Ministry of Agriculture, ICAR, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Environment and Forests, CSIR, Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizer, Ministry of Commerce and State Agricultural Universities across the country. The main objectives of the scheme include: To identify crops and regions having preponderance of pesticide residues in order to focus extension efforts for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Good Agriculture Pesticides (GAP); and To test pesticide residues and other contaminants in food commodities and environmental samples like soil and water.