Lok Sabha Question No. 1400 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-12
Subject: Hazardous Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA, M. CHANDRAKASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1400

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  FEBRUARY, 2019

## HAZARDOUS PESTICIDES

1400.  SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA: SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

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

- (a) whether the Government has details regarding the number of annual death of farmers caused due to harmful effects of pesticide-handling in the country during each of the last three years and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any study has been conducted to find out the reasons for such deaths and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is a fact that many highly hazardous pesticides banned in foreign countries are allowed to be used in India and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the details of the steps being taken to promote safe and judicious use of pesticides by farmers for better pest-management practices and for increasing agricultural production through education and awareness programmes; and
- (e) the fresh steps taken by the Government to have an exclusive legislation on pesticides management to address the issues related to unsafe use of pesticides?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a): Yes,  as  reported  by  the  States,  182,  148  and  148  nos.  of  farmers  have  died  due  to occupational exposure to pesticides in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively.
- (b): No, Madam.
- (c): The traits/agro-climatic/ environmental conditions of each country differs and therefore the decision taken by a country to ban a pesticides need not be applicable to other country. In India,  the  Registration  Committee,  constituted  under  Section  5  of  the  Insecticides  Act,  1968 registers pesticides after considering data on different  parameters such  as chemistry, bio-efficacy, toxicity, packaging and processing to ensure efficacy and safety to human beings, animals and environment. In additions, technical reviews are carried out from time to time to assess the safety of pesticides for their continued use. Based on which, the Government, inter alia, has banned 40 pesticides in the country.

(d): The  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and Farmers Welfare  has established 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) across the Country. These CIPMCs, inter  alia,  undertake  exhaustive  surveys,  disseminate  timely  advisories,  organize  review meetings, distribute bio-control agents and conduct Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) to sensitize farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. During 2015-16 to 2018-19 (till Kharif) a total of 2838 FFSs have been organized for sensitizing farmers on IPM approach.

(e): The  Government  of  India  is  implementing  the  Insecticides  Act,  1968  to  regulate  the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides with a view to prevent risk to human beings or animals, and for matters connected therewith.

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