Lok Sabha Question No. 414 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-20
Subject: Price of Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Balashowry Vallabbhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 414

TO BE ANSWERED ON  20.07.2021

## PRICE OF PESTICIDES

- 414 SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state :

- (a) whether  it  is  true  that  there  is  no  mechanism  to  regulate  the  pricing  of  pesticides  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  there  is  any  plan  before  the  Government  to  bring  legislation  to  control  pesticide companies;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of international standards being followed in use of pesticides and regulations on pesticide companies?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) and (b):    There is no mechanism to regulate the pricing of pesticides in the Insecticides Act, 1968 and Insecticides Rules, 1971. Pricing of pesticides is market driven and to make available  pesticides  at  reasonable  prices,  the  Registration  Committee  grants  registration certificates  for  generic  pesticides  expeditiously.  Availability  of  more  options  to  farmers ensures healthy competition in the market thereby having the effect of stabilizing the prices.
- (c)  and  (d):  Pesticides  companies  like  any  other  companies  are  regulated  under  the provisions of the  Companies Act, 2013. Further, the Pesticide Management Bill, 2020 to repeal and replace the existing Insecticides Act, 1968 has already been introduced in Rajya Sabha on 23 rd March 2020.

(e): Every country follows its own  regulations in respect of quality control and manufacture of pesticides depending on its own requirements. Similarly, use of pesticides by different countries is also governed as per local traditions and requirements. In India, the Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  is  implementing  the  'Sub-Mission  on  Plant Protection'  with  a  mandate  to  popularize  adoption  of  Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM) through training and demonstration in crops. IPM is an environmentally friendly comprehensive  ecological  approach  through  which  farmers  are  made  aware  about  the minimum dependence on chemical pesticides, judicious use of chemical pesticides and use as  per  the  prescriptions  given  in  the  label  and  leaflets.  Government  has  established  35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centers in 28 States and two Union Territories in the country  which  impart  trainings  to  farmers  and  State  Extension  Officers  through  Farmers Field  Schools  (FFS),  short  and  long  duration  training  programmes  on  IPM  strategies. During the trainings, major emphasis is given on judicious use of chemical pesticide as a last  resort,  safety  in  use  of  pesticides,  alternate  tools  for  pest  management  viz.  cultural, physical,  mechanical  methods  of  pest  control  as  well  as  use  of  bio-pesticides  and  biocontrol  agents,  effects  of  pesticides  on  natural  enemies  of  pests,  do's  and  don'ts  for pesticides including proper application equipment and technique.

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