Lok Sabha Question No. 458 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Adverse effect of Insecticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

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

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.458

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  26 TH  APRIL, 2016

## ADVERSE EFFECT OF INSECTICIDES

458.   SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of large scale indiscriminate use of insecticides  in  the  country  which  causes  insecticide  poisoning  and  serious  health disorders amongst the users;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any study has been conducted by the Government in this regard;
- (d) if so, the details and outcome thereof; and
- (e) the details of the safety measures and mass awareness companign being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨ããè (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

- (a) & (b): The  Central  Government      monitors  pesticides  residues  in  various agricultural  commodities  etc.  under  the  central  scheme  'Monitoring  of  Pesticides Residues at National Level' (MPRNL). The annual report of MPRNL for 2014-15 shows that  2.6  %  of  all  samples  of  commodities  contained  pesticide  residues  above  the Maximum Residues Limits (MRLs) fixed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
- (c) & (d): During the period  (2011-12 to 2014-15 ),  a total of 70,850  samples of various  food  commodities  such  as  vegetables,  fruits,  cereals,  spices,  pulses,  milk, butter, fish, meat, tea, honey etc. and environmental samples like soil and water were collected  and  analyzed.  Out  of  which  1778  (2.5%)  samples  were  found  to  contain pesticide residues above MRLs. The year wise details are at Annexure-I.

(e): As per Insecticides Rules, 1971 framed under the Insecticides Act, 1968, sale or distribution of insecticides in the country is prohibited unless it is packed and labelled in accordance  with  the  provisions  of  these  rules.  In  addition,  the  annual  reports  of  the MPRNL are being shared with all State Government in order to sensitize about areas of likely  pesticide  over  use.    Central  Integrated  Pest  Management  Centres  (CIPMCs) under  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  conducts Farmers  Field  Schools  to  sensitize  farmers  regarding  safe  and  judicious  use  of pesticides,  use  of  bio-pesticides  etc.  A  'Grow  Safe  Food'  campaign  has  also  been initiated to carrying the message of safe and judicious use of pesticides to farmers and other stakeholders.  Package of practices for control of pests and diseases in 78 crops have been revised to include techniques to reduce dependence on chemical pesticides and encourage use of bio-pesticides and other alternative plant protection measures.

Year Wise Details of Sample Analysed

| S.No.   | Year    | Samples Analysed   |   Samples above MRL |   Percentage of samples above MRL |
|---------|---------|--------------------|---------------------|-----------------------------------|
| 1.      | 2011-12 | 16,948             |                 290 |                               1.7 |
| 2.      | 2012-13 | 16,494             |                 436 |                               2.6 |
| 3.      | 2013-14 | 16,790             |                 509 |                               3   |
| 4.      | 2014-15 | 20,618             |                 543 |                               2.6 |
|         | TOTAL   | 70,850             |                1778 |                               2.5 |

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Annexure -I