Lok Sabha Question No. 289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-19
Subject: Impact of Agro-chemicals
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: RAJU ALIAS DEVAPPA ANNA SHETTI, DHARMENDRA YADAV

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.289

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19 TH  JULY, 2016

## IMPACT OF AGRO-CHEMICALS

## 289. SHRI RAJU SHETTY:

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

- (a) whether any assessment has been made by the Government regarding the impact of agro-chemicals  on  the  targeted  pests  and  subsequently  on  production  of  foodgrains, vegetables and fruits;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to regulate the usage of inorganic chemicals and promote biological pest control measures in cultivation?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंालय म राय मंी (SHRI  SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

- (a) & (b): Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  has  started  a  central  sector scheme, 'Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National level' under which samples of food commodities are collected and analysed for the presence of pesticide residues. The detail of samples analysed during the year 2015-16 is at Annexure I.
- (c): The Government  is implementing 'Strengthening and Modernization of Pest Management Approach in India' through 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) of Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage established across the country  with  an  aim  to  promote  Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM)  approach  .  CIPMCs inter  alia,  produce  biological  agents  for  release  in  the  fields,  conserve  natural  bio-control agents,  promote  bio-pesticides  as  an  alternative  to  chemical  pesticides  and  advocate judicious  and  safe  use  of  chemical  pesticides  as  a  last  resort.  These  activities  are implemented through Farmers Field Schools (FFSs), 2 days and 5 days training programmes and   season long training program for State Agriculture Extension officers and

NGOs  /  Private  Bodies.  A  'Grow  Safe  Food'  campaign  has  been  initiated  to  carry  the message  of  safe  and  judicious  use  of  pesticides  to  farmers  and  other  stakeholders.    A simple message related to five essential principles of judicious pesticide use - application of pesticides on the right crop, against pests for which the pesticide has been approved, at the right time, in approved doses, and as per approved method of application - is sought to be disseminated  in  regional  languages  in  Gram  Panchayats  and  rural  areas.  Package  of practices  for  control  of  pests  and  diseases  in  79  crops  have  been  revised  to  include techniques  to  reduce  dependence  on  chemical  pesticides  and  encourage  use  of  biopesticides and other alternative plant protection measures.

ANNEXURE- I

DETAILS OF THE SAMPLES ANALYSED DURING THE YEAR 2015-16

|   S.No. | Commodity                     |   Samples Analyzed | Samples found above FSSAI MRL   |
|---------|-------------------------------|--------------------|---------------------------------|
|       1 | Food Grains (Rice and Wheat ) |               1955 | 157 (8%)                        |
|       2 | Vegetables                    |              11551 | 339 (2.9%)                      |
|       3 | Fruits                        |               2358 | 30 (1.27%)                      |

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