Lok Sabha Question No. 29 (STARRED), answered on 2020-02-04
Subject: Use of Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 29

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE   4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020

## USE OF PESTICIDES

- *29. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  come  across  the  use  of  pesticides  far  higher  than permissible limits in Andhra Pradesh and some other States;
- (b) if so, the details of mechanism that is in place to monitor it through soil testing and/or testing of produce;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  educating/bringing  awareness  among  farmers  about implications of the use of excessive pesticides; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  give  some  incentives  to  farmers  or  districts which are growing crops with no use or a little use of pesticides or chemicals?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी

(SHRI NARENDRA  SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 29   DUE FOR REPLY ON 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020.

(a): Andhra  Pradesh  and  other  State  Governments  have  reported  that  they  have  not received such report /incident regarding use of pesticide far higher than permissible limits. State Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that the pesticide consumption in Andhra Pradesh has decreased in last 9 years.

(b): Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing a Central Sector Scheme 'Monitoring of Pesticide Residues  at  National Level',  under  which  samples  of  food commodities  are  collected  from  farm  gate,  Agriculture  Produce  Marketing  Committee markets, retail outlets, organic outlets and surface water samples are collected from water resources such as ponds, reservoirs, lakes, river etc. located at different parts of the country for  the  possible  presence  of  pesticide  residues  by  30  participating  laboratories  and  3 collection  laboratories  of  Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare,  Indian  Council  of Agricultural  Research,  State  Agricultural  Universities,  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research, Export Inspection Council, Counsel  of Scientific and Industrial Research  and  State Government  Laboratories.    Reports  of  Pesticide  Residue  Analysis  are  shared  with  State Governments to undertake awareness campaigns and organise Farmer Field Schools in the districts  where  samples  are  above  prescribed  pesticide  residues  limit  to  educate  farmers regarding the uses as per approved labels and leaflets.

(c): Ministry  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing  'Sub-Mission  on  Plant Protection  and  Plant  Quarantine'  Scheme,  under  which  Integrated  Pest  Management approach  is  being  promoted  to  educate  the  farmers  about  judicious  use  of  chemical pesticides  and  recommend use as  per  the  directions  prescribed  on  the  label  and  leaflets. Integrated Pest Management    seeks to  promote cultural, mechanical, biological methods of

pest control and recommends use of chemical pesticides as a measure of last resort.  During the last 5 years (2014-15 to 2019-20), 3730 Farmer Field Schools and 732 HRD programmes were conducted under Integrated Pest Management and 1,41,180 farmers, pesticide dealers and officials have been trained.

(d): Government of India through organic farming schemes of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana  (PKVY)  and  Mission  Organic  Value  Chain  Development  for  North  Eastern  Region (MOVCDNER) aims for sustainable agriculture production with eco-friendly process in tune with nature and produce chemical free agriculture produce for improving the health condition of the people. An amount of Rs.31,000 / ha in 3 years is directly provided to farmers in PKVY for  inputs  including  organic  fertilizers  and  Rs.25,000/  ha  in  3  years  is  provided  under MOVCDNER for organic inputs.

*******