Yavatmal farmers fight losing battle against pesticide poisoning; pin hopes on Swiss court hearing

Yavatmal farmers fight losing battle against pesticide poisoning; pin hopes on Swiss court hearing

Subject : Environment

Section: Pollution

Pesticide ‘Polo’:

• Manufactured by the Swiss agrochemical giant Syngenta.
• Polo’s active ingredient is diafenthiuron, which has been banned in Switzerland and by the European Union because of its harmful effects on health and the environment but the company exports and distributes it in India.
• Health impact includes: Nausea and heavy-head, damage of clear vision, photo-sensitivity, loss of stamina for labour, severe exposure leads to death.

Pesticides in India:

• India is the 2nd largest pesticide manufacturer in the world. It is the 5th largest exporter after China, USA, Germany and France.
• Maharashtra is the top consumer of pesticides in the country.
  • Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region (mainly a cotton growing region) accounts for 50 percent of total pesticide use in India.
  • Because of several deaths due to pesticides poisoning, Maharashtra has banned products which use diafenthiuron.
• Pesticides are the leading cause of poisoning in India, with two in every three cases of poisoning happening because of pesticide consumption either intentionally or unintentionally.
• Pesticides can enter the human body by three common ways: Through the skin (contact), the mouth (ingestion) and the lungs (inhalation).

Pesticide regulation in India:

• The Pesticides Management Bill  has been introduced to replace the Insecticides Act of 1968.
  • The Bill is meant to ensure more effective regulation of the sector, minimise risks to human beings, animals, living organisms other than pests and the environment, with an endeavour to promote pesticides that are biological and based on traditional knowledge.
• There are at least 116 pesticides that are banned internationally but are being allowed to be used in India and pose serious health hazards to farmers.
• In 2020, the Centre came out with a draft order banning 27 pesticides, out of the 66. However, the order has been reversed to ban only 3 out of 66 pesticides.
• On September 29, 2023 the government issued an order to ban four hazardous pesticides — Dicofol, Dinocap, Methomyl and ‘Monocrotophos’.  The use of pesticide ‘carbofuran’ has been restricted.

About Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIBRC):

• It is under the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and was set up by the Ministry of Agriculture in the year 1970.
• Aim: To regulate the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risks to human beings and animals and for other matters connected therewith.
• The Insecticides Act, 1968 was brought into force in 1971 with the publication of Insecticides Rules, 1971.
• The Central Insecticides Board (CIB) advises the Central Government and State Governments on technical matters arising out of the administration of this Act and to carry out the other functions assigned to the Board by or under these rules. Major functions are:
  • Advise the Central Government on the manufacture of insecticides under the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951.
  • Specify the uses of the classification of insecticideson the basis of their toxicity as well as their being suitable for aerial application.
  • Advise tolerance limits for insecticides residues and establishment of minimum intervals between the application of insecticides and harvest in respect of various commodities.
  • Specify the shelf-life of insecticides
• Registration of Insecticides / Certificate of Registration
• There is compulsory registration of the insecticides at the Central level and license for their manufacture, formulation and sale are dealt with at the State level.
• Hence for effective enforcement of the Insecticides Act, the following bodies have been constituted at the Central level by the Ministry:
  • Central Insecticides Board (CIB)
  • Registration Committee (RC)
• Any person desiring to import or manufacture any insecticide may apply to the Registration Committee for the registration of such insecticide and there shall be a separate application for each such insecticide to obtain the Certificate of Registration.
• License to manufacture insecticides
  • According to the Insecticides Rules 1971, a license is required to obtain from the concerned State Government office either to manufacture, sell, exhibit for sale or distribute any insecticide/pesticide.

What are the alternatives available to farmers?

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, which are using cost-effective mechanical methods
• Bio-pesticides
• Newer molecular target-specific low toxicity pesticides, usage of which is extremely low, and which are a little more expensive
• Pheromone traps, which are quite economical, are meant for mating disruption, for suppression of pest population, and mass trapping. Such traps slowly release synthetic attractants which help in the detection of a single species of insect in the fields.
• Neem-based biopesticides, which are environment-friendly, is very effective cost-wise and yield-wise. Its bitter taste keeps pests away from plants.
• Moreover, the right kind of seeds and precise irrigation can also help farmers keep the pests away.

Source: DownToEarth