Lok Sabha Question No. 1288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-18
Subject: Scientific and Judicious Use of Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1288

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## SCIENTIFIC  AND  JUDICIOUS  USE OF PESTICIDES

1288.      SHRI  PONGULETI SRINIVASA REDDY:

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

- (a) whether  there  is  concern  over  the  unscientific  and  excessive  use  of  pesticides  in agriculture  that  poses  a  threat  both  to  the  environment  and  human  health,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also a fact that the experts  say  that  their  judicious  use, combined with safe agricultural practices, is  the  only  way  out  as  the  country's growing demand for food cannot be met through organic farming, if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c) whether  there  is  an  imperative need  for  promoting  scientific  use  of pesticides in agriculture and relying entirely on  organic  farming  is  not  a  practical solution,  as  we  need to    feed    a    growing  population    and    there    must    be    efforts    to  create  awareness  among farmers about the scientific use of pesticides, if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken in this regard?

## 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): The use of pesticides beyond the permissible limit is likely to manifest in higher residues in  the  agricultural  crops,  food  commodities  and  environmental  samples.  The  Ministry  of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing 'Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level'  (MPRNL)  scheme,  under  which  food  commodities  and  environmental  samples  are collected  and  analyzed  for  the  presence  of  pesticide  residues.    During  2012-18,  a  total  of 1,21,944 samples have been collected and analyzed, out of which 2,878 (2.4 %) samples were found  exceeding  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI)  Maximum  Residue Level (MRL).
- (b) & (c): Yes,  judicious  use  of  pesticides  along  with  Good  Agricultural  Practices  are needed  to  keep  the  crops  free  from  pests.  The  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and Farmers Welfare is propagating Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as a major Plant protection measures. 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. The Department has  established  35  Central Integrated  Pest  Management  Centres  (CIPMCs) across  the  Country.  These  CIPMCs,  inter  alia,  conduct  Farmers  Field  Schools  (FFSs)  to sensitize farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, and safe and judicious use of chemical pesticides as a last resort as per approved labels and leaflets.

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