Lok Sabha Question No. 2635 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-02
Subject: Crop Damage due to Spurious Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dharambir Singh

## GOVERNMENT  OF  INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK   SABHA UNSTARRED   QUESTION NO. 2635

TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 nd  AUGUST, 2022

## CROP DAMAGE DUE TO SPURIOUS PESTICIDES

2635 .    SHRI DHARAMBIR  SINGH

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has estimated the extent of  damage caused to the crop due to the use of spurious pesticides;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  develop  bio-fertilizers  with  the  help  of  private players keeping in view the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers;
- (c)  if  so,  the  funds  allocated  by  the  Government  for  organic  farming  and  soil  quality improvement during the last three years;
- (d) whether the Government has achieved the desired targets in this regard;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  is  also  emphasizing  on  agriculture-based  vocational training programme to improve the crop product ratio; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि एवं ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) :  The Registration Committee constituted under section (5) of the Insecticides Act, 1968 registers the pesticides for use in the country after evaluation of their safety and efficacy. The registration committee while registering the pesticides provides the details of  doses,  crops,  precautionary  measures,  antidotes  etc  on  Label  and  Leaflets.  The registered pesticides if used as per Label and Leaflets do not pose any harm to human beings, animals, living organisms other than pests.

To  check  the  sale  of  Spurious  pesticides,  Insecticide  Inspectors  appointed  by  the State Governments and Central Government under section 20 of Insecticides Act 1968 , have  been  vested  with  powers  to  enter,  search  premises,  seize  documents,  stop distribution, sale or use of stock of insecticides and take insecticide samples for analysis and to periodically  inspect the manufacturer, distributors, dealers and retailers within the  area  of  his  jurisdiction  to  satisfy  himself  that  the  conditions  of  the  license  are complied with.

Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers  Welfare  through  its    36  Central  Integrated  Pest  Management    Centers (CIPMCs) across 28 States and 2 UTs, conduct various training programmes such as Farmers  Field  Schools  (FFS),  Kisan  Gosthis,  2  days  Human  Resource  Development (HRD)  programmes,  IPM  Exhibitions  and  Seed  Treatment  Campaigns  for    farmers. During the training, major emphasis is given on judicious use of chemical pesticide as a last  resort,  alternate  tools  for  pest  management  viz;  cultural  ,  physical  ,  mechanical methods of pest control, as well as use of bio-pesticides and bio-control agents,  safety in use of pesticides, effects of pesticides on natural enemies of pests, do's and don'ts s of pesticide,  including proper application equipment and the technique .

- (b)  and  (c)  :  Government  of  India  promotes  use    of  Bio-fertilizers    under  Integrated Nutrient Management of Crops . The Bio-fertilizers products and formulations developed by  the  Industry  and  Research  Industries  and  as  per  the  procedure  laid  down,  are included in the Fertilizer Control Order so that it can be commercially made available to framers.  Government  is  also  promoting  organic  farming  through  dedicated  schemes Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development  (MOVCDNER)  schemes  across  the  country  since  2015-16.  Under Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)    scheme  organic  farming  is  promoted  in cluster model and farmers are provided  financial assistance of Rs 50000/ hectare for 3 years in which, Rs 31000/ hectare / 3 years is provided directly to farmers through DBT for  organic  inputs  such  as  seeds,  bio  fertilizers,  bio-pesticides,  organic  manure, compost/vermi-compost, botanical extracts etc. MOVCDNER is implemented in all the North  Eastern  States  for  promotion  of  certified  organic  production,  in  which,  organic farmers  are  supported  to  develop  their  value  chain  from  organic  production  to processing and marketing etc. through FPO formation. Under the scheme a sum of Rs. 46,575/  hectare  for  3years  are  provided  for  creation  of  FPO,  support  to  farmers  for organic inputs, quality seeds/ planting material and  training, hand  holding  and certification.  Besides,  financial  assistance  is  also  provided  as  subsidy  to  FPOs  and Private entrepreneurs
- (d)  Government  has  achieved  the  desired  targets  under  PKVY  and  MOVCDNER schemes. So far, 11.85 lakh hectare area has been covered under PKVY and 1.66 lakh hectare area has been brought under organic farming under MOVCDNER scheme.
- (e) and (f) : There are no  specific agriculture based vocational training programme to improve crop product ratio. However, Extension Division of DA&FW runs the following training program for rural youths and farmers:
- (i) Skill training programmes (minimum 200 hours duration) : The major areas of skill trainings include mushroom production, bee-keeping, micro-irrigation,
- maintenance  and  repair  of  farm  equipments,  nursery  management,  organic grower, vermi-compost production, animal husbandry, dairying, poultry, fishery etc.
- (ii) Skill Training of Rural Youth(7 days duration) - The areas of skill training include soil testing, organic farming, bio-fertilizer production, clean milk production, poultry rearing  and management, piggery etc. The skill gained by farmers/rural youth in these trainings is useful in gaining self employment.
- (iii) 'Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension reforms" Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA)- is being implemented in 704 districts of  28 states & 5 UTs in the country. The objectives of the Scheme is to support State Government's efforts and to make available latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas  to  farmers  through  different  extension  activities  viz;  Farmers  Training, Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan  Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and organizing Farm Schools etc.

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