Lok Sabha Question No. 3070 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Use of Bio-Pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ramya  Haridas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3070

ANSWERED ON 8 TH  AUGUST, 2023

## USE OF BIO-PESTICIDES

3070.  MS. RAMYA HARIDAS:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी

be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government proposes to formulate a concrete policy to promote the use of bio-pesticides  in  agriculture  so  as  to  enhance  the  production  of  toxic/chemical  free products in the country and provide healthy and natural food to the people of the country;

(b)  if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the country is complying with the international quality standards in respect to use of pesticides in agriculture; and

(d)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR )

(a) & (b): The Government of India has taken various steps to promote the use of bio pesticides.  Simplified  guidelines  are  formulated  by  Registration  Committee  (RC)  for  the registration of bio pesticides. For bio-pesticides, provisional registrations are granted under Section 9(3B) of the Insecticides Act, 1968 alongwith the permission for commercialization during  the  provisional  registration  period  of  two  years  based  on  the  confirmation  of molecular  identity  of  the  strain  from  ICAR-National  Bureau  of  Agriculturally  Important Microorganisms  (ICAR-NBAIM)  and  quality  verification  of  the product from  Central Insecticide Laboratory (CIL).

Further,  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  through  its  Krishi  Vigyan Kendras (KVKs),  ICAR and  36  Central  Integrated  Pest  Management  Centres  (CIPMCs) located  in  28  States  and  2  UTs,  etc.  conducts  various  training  programmes  such  as Farmers Field Schools, two/five days HRD programmes, Kisan Goshthis, IPM Exhibitions and Seed Treatment Campaigns where awareness is created amongst farmers, Pesticide dealers/State  agriculture  functionaries  on  safe  and  judicious  use  of  chemical  pesticides, use  of  bio  pesticides,  bio  control  agents  and  botanical  formulations  as  an  alternative  to chemical  pesticides  for  pest  management  and  usage  as  per  doses  given  in  label  and leaflet approved by Registration Committee.

(c) & (d): India follows the International quality standards and harmonizes its guidelines for registration of pesticides in-line with Organization for Economic co-operation and  Development  (OECD)  Guidelines.  Further,  India  being  signatory  of  many  Global conventions  applicable  to  pesticides  such  as  Rotterdam  convention  on  Prior  Informed Consent  (PIC),  Stockholm  convention,  Montreal  Protocol  etc.  abides  by  the  rules  and regulations of these conventions including Chemical Weapon Convention. India abides by the  requirements  of  International  conventions  and  follow  the  requisite  norms/procedure. The  pesticide  companies  mandatorily  follow  the  PIC  procedure  for  Import/Export  of chemicals.

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