The pesticide hazard: eating away the lives of farmers in Maharashtra
- December 25, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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The pesticide hazard: eating away the lives of farmers in Maharashtra
Subject :Environment
Section: Pollution
In the news:
- Borisinh village, amidst agricultural fields, reflects the continuous plight of farmers suffering from pesticide poisoning in Maharashtra.
Details:
- Certain insecticides were temporarily banned in 2017 and 2018 in several districts due to poisoning cases.
- Committees and Pesticide Bans:
- Anupam Verma Committee (2015): Reviewed 66 pesticides, and recommended banning 27.
- SK Malhotra Committee (2017): Sought a review on banning the same 27 pesticides.
- Registration Committee (2018)andS K Khurana Committee (2020): Both recommended banning the same 27 pesticides.
- Rajindran Committee (2022): Recommended banning three pesticides.
- Highly hazardous pesticides, likeMonocrotophos and Polo, are still used extensively in Maharashtra, causing health issues.
Pesticides:
- Substances intended for pest control in agriculture, food production, and animal care. Examples: fungicides, herbicides, insecticides.
- Examples of Synthetic Chemical Pesticides: Glyphosate, Acephate, Deet, Propoxur, Metaldehyde, Boric Acid, Diazinon, Dursban, DDT, Malathion, etc.
Pesticide ‘Polo’ and its health Impact:
- Manufactured by Syngenta,Polo contains diafenthiuron,banned in the EU and Switzerland due to health and environmental risks.
- Health impacts include nausea, vision impairment, photo-sensitivity, loss of stamina, and even death with severe exposure.
Status of pesticides in India:
- India ranks 2nd in pesticide production and is the 5th largest exporter globally.
- Maharashtra, especially Vidarbha, utilizes 50% of India’s pesticides, notably in cotton farming.
- Pesticides are a leading cause of poisoning; intentional or unintentional consumption causes two-thirds of poisoning cases in India.
Regulation of Pesticides:
- Insecticides Act, 1968: Governs import, manufacture, sale, transport, and use of insecticides and pesticides to prevent risks to humans and animals.
- Pesticide Registration: Handled by the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage (DPPQS), an office under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- DPPQS: Advises governments on plant protection, and oversees pest management, plant quarantine, pesticide regulation, locust control, and training.
Issues in pesticide regulation:
- The Pesticides Management Bill seeks to replace the Insecticides Act of 1968, aiming for effective regulation, minimizing risks, and promoting bio-based and traditional pesticides.
- Despite international bans, India permits at least 116 hazardous pesticides, posing health risks.
- Attempts to ban certain pesticides resulted in reversals, with limited bans enforced in 2023 on hazardous pesticides.
Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIBRC):
- Established under the Ministry of Agriculture to regulate insecticide usage, manufacturing, import, and sale.
- Responsibilities include advising on insecticide manufacturing, classification, residue tolerance, shelf-life, and registration.
Alternatives for Farmers:
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques: Cost-effective mechanical methods.
- Bio-pesticides: Environment-friendly alternatives.
- Molecular target-specific low-toxicity pesticides: Pricier but safer alternatives.
- Pheromone traps and neem-based biopesticides: Economical and effective methods.
Biomagnification:
- Defined as the rise or increase in the contaminated substances caused by the intoxicating environment. The contaminants might be heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and pesticides such as polychlorinated biphenyls and DDT.
- These substances are taken up by the organisms through the food they consume. When the organisms in the higher food chain feed on the organisms in the lower food chain containing these toxins, these toxins accumulate in the higher organisms.
Source: The Hindu