Lok Sabha Question No. 5963 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-03
Subject: Spray of Insecticides/Pesticides in Agricultural Fields
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: GEETHA KOTHAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5963

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  3 RD  APRIL, 2018

## SPRAY OF INSECTICIDES/PESTICIDES IN AGRICULTURAL FIELDS

5963.  SHRIMATI KOTHAPALLI GEETHA:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE      ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान कयाण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the farmers are dying/died in the country due to spray of insecticides/ pesticides  in  the  agricultural  fields,  disinfection  and  poisonous  gases  particularly  in Andhra Pradesh;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year particularly in various districts in AP; and
- (c) the  compensation announced/given by the Government to the families of such victims in AP during the last three years and the current year and the steps being taken by the Government  to  protect farmers during such  sprays with instructions of precautions taken/to be taken in agricultural fields in future?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं  कसान  कयाण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã  ½ãñâ  Àã·¾ã  ½ãâ¨ããè (  SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a) to (c): As  per  the  information  received  from  the  State  Governments,  details  of death  caused  by  the  inhalation  of  Pesticides  are  at  Annexure  I.  The  Registration Committee,  constituted under  Section 5 of the Insecticides Act, 1968  registers insecticides  after  considering  its  efficacy  and  safety  to  human  beings,  animals  and environment.  Furthermore,  the  Registration  Committee  while  granting  Certificate  of Registration  to  the  applicant  also  approves  labels  and  leaflets.  These  labels  and leaflets, inter alia, provides information on safe usage of the insecticide. It is mandatory for every manufacturer to place these labels and leaflets in the packages of insecticide for sale.The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing' Strengthening

and Modernization of Pest Management Approach in India' (SMPMA) Scheme through 35  Central  Integrated  Pest  Management  Centres  (CIPMCs)  established  across  the country with  an  aim  to  promote  Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM)  approach. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecological approach which aims to keep pest population  below  economic  thresholds  level  by  employing  available  alternate  pest control  strategies  and  techniques  viz.  preventive  measures,  cultural,  mechanical  and biological  control  with  greater  emphasis  on  usage  of  bio-pesticides  and  pesticides  of plant-origin  like  Neem  formulation  etc.  These  CIPMCs,  inter  alia,  organize  Farmers Field  Schools  (FFSs)  to  sensitize  farmers  on  Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM) approach and to use chemical pesticides as a last resort as per approved labels and leaflets. In addition, Package of practices for control of pests and diseases in 87 crops have been revised to include techniques to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and encourage use of bio-pesticides and  other  alternative  plant  protection  measures. Timely advisories are being issued by the Ministry to the State Government disseminating, inter alia, management strategies to prevent pests attack. Furthermore, the  State  Governments  through  various  forums  such  as  Zonal  Conferences  and National  Conference  are  requested  to  exhort  their  extension  functionaries  to  educate and  impart  training  to  farmers  on  efficacious  and  sustainable  pest  management strategies /approaches.

## Annexure I

Details of Deaths caused by the Inhalation of Pesticides

|   S.N o. | State/UT            | 2014- 15                                                                   | 2015- 16                                                                   | 2016-17                                                                    | 2017-18                                                                    | Remarks                                            |
|----------|---------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh      | Such cases are not reported in Andhra Pradesh                              | Such cases are not reported in Andhra Pradesh                              | Such cases are not reported in Andhra Pradesh                              | Such cases are not reported in Andhra Pradesh                              |                                                    |
|        2 | Bihar               | Not reported                                                               | Not reported                                                               | Not reported                                                               | Not reported                                                               |                                                    |
|        3 | Goa                 | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        |                                                    |
|        4 | Gujarat             | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        |                                                    |
|        5 | Maharashtra         | 89                                                                         | 47                                                                         | 73                                                                         | 63                                                                         | Casualities reported due to handling of Pesticides |
|        6 | Uttarakhand         | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        |                                                    |
|        7 | Daman and Diu       | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        |                                                    |
|        8 | Lakshadweep         | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        | Nil                                                                        |                                                    |
|        9 | Assam               | No such cases have been reported from any district of the State till date. | No such cases have been reported from any district of the State till date. | No such cases have been reported from any district of the State till date. | No such cases have been reported from any district of the State till date. |                                                    |
|       10 | Karnataka           | 3                                                                          | 2                                                                          | 1                                                                          | Not informed by the State                                                  | Causalities reported due to pesticide poisoning    |
|       11 | Jharkhand           | No report of such deaths                                                   | No report of such deaths                                                   | No report of such deaths                                                   | No report of such deaths                                                   |                                                    |
|       12 | Andaman and Nicobar | No such cases have been reported                                           | No such cases have been reported                                           | No such cases have been reported                                           | No such cases have been reported                                           |                                                    |

|   S.N o. | State   |   Kharif & Rabi 2014 |   Kharif & Rabi 2015 |   Kharif & Rabi 2016 |   Kharif & Rabi 2017 | Remarks   |
|----------|---------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|-----------|
|       13 | Punjab  |                   60 |                  112 |                   57 |                   64 |           |

|   S.No. | State     |   2014 |   2015 |   2016 |   2017 | Remarks                                                              |                                         |
|---------|-----------|--------|--------|--------|--------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
|      14 | Rajasthan |     32 |     12 |      3 |      5 | Casualities due to poisoning (including Homicidal, and Occupational) | reported pesticide Suicidal, Accidental |

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