Lok Sabha Question No. 143 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-02
Subject: Sale of Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Balak Nath

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

## LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 143

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE   2 ND  JULY, 2019

## SALE OF PESTICIDES

## *143.     SHRI BALAK NATH:

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

- (a) whether incidents of sale of pesticides with banned chemicals and herbicide-tolerant cotton seeds have been reported from different parts of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (c) the likely impact of such pesticides and seeds on crops and health of farmers; and
- (d) the  action  being  taken  by  the  Government  thereon  and  to  check  their  sale  in  the country?

## 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. 143 DUE FOR REPLY ON 2 ND  JULY, 2019.

- (a): As informed by the States, no incident of sale of pesticides with banned chemicals has been reported. However, incident of sale of herbicide-tolerant (HT) cotton seeds have been reported from three Cotton growing States i.e. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Telangana.
- (b): As reported by the State Government of Maharashtra, illegal HT Cotton Seeds were seized in the districts of Nagpur, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Nandurbar, Yavatmal  and Gadchiroli. Total of 9387 illegal cotton seed packets and 1087 Kg loose cotton seeds valued at Rs 102.87 Lakh was confiscated. Further 20 FIRs have been filed against the culprits in the respective police stations.

As reported by the State Government of Gujarat, during the last one year there are 8 incidences of HT cotton seeds. 7 FIRs were registered against accused of selling HT cotton seeds  in  Vadodara,  Kutch,  Sabarkantha  and  Gir-Somnath  and  one  is  under  process  in Bhavnagar district.

As  reported  by  the  State  Government  of  Telangana,  sporadic  cases  of  HT  cotton seeds  have  been  witnessed.  However,  because  of  close  monitoring  and  effective  seed control  mechanism  adopted  by  State  Government  the  cases  of  HT  seeds  have  reduced considerably in last one year. In 2017, 368 seed samples were tested and 81 were found HT positive. In 2018, 694 seed samples were tested and 119 were found HT positive. In 2019, 302 seed samples were tested and 8 were found HT positive. Taking punitive actions, 40 cases  have  been  booked,  44  persons  have  been  arrested,  administrative  action  taken against 7 seed licenses and 29647 quintals of seed stock having HT trait worth Rs 907 Lakhs have been seized.

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(c): As there are no incidents of sale of pesticides with banned chemicals, the question of its  impact  on  crops  and  health  of  the  farmers  does  not  arise.  However,  as  far  as  the  HT cotton seeds are concerned, they are not approved for use in the country and therefore, this Department does not have any scientific  evidence  of  likely  impact  of  HT  cotton  seeds  on crops and health of the farmers.

(d): In addition to the punitive actions mentioned in para (b) above, the State Governments have alerted the quality control inspectors and district authorities to be vigilant to the illegal production and sale of HT cotton seeds duly taking samples in all cases of suspicion and taking consequential action in cases of mischief. Time and again farmers are being educated extensively not to use HT Cotton seeds. In Telangana, State level and District level statutory committees  have  been  formed  for  ensuring  prompt  action  and  the  State  Government  has also banned Glyphosate in the State excepting for non-cropped area. Andhra Pradesh State Government has restricted the sale of Glyphosate formulation and the sale of HT cotton is being monitored and restricted through squads and enforcement authorities with creation of awareness.

In addition, to check the sale of HT cotton seeds, an Inter-Ministerial Field Inspection and Scientific Evaluation Committee (FISEC) has been constituted for on-the-spot inspection of the cotton fields to assess the veracity of spread of unapproved HT cotton in the country, to  confirm the presence of gene(s), strategies and measures to contain it. The FISEC has suggested  strategies  for  immediate  action,  short  term  action  and  medium  term  action  to control and curb the spread of HT cotton. Furthermore, this department has issued advisory to all cotton growing States urging them to take all the necessary steps to check the sale and cultivation of illegal, unapproved HT cotton.

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