Question : Misuse of Pesticides

(a) whether there have been reports of misuse of pesticides in the country, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is also a fact that 25 per cent of the pesticides being used across the country is spurious resulting in huge damage to crops reducing the fertility of the soil at large and creating severe environmental impact;

(c) if so, the details thereof along with action taken by the Government to check this menace and punish the manufacturing companies/distributing agencies concerned;

(d) whether the Government is contemplating to enact a law in this regard and provide compensation to the affected farmers; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to provide quality pesticides to farmers?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a): The Central Government monitors pesticides residue levels 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 total numbers of samples of various commodities contained pesticide residues above the Maximum Residues Limits fixed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

(b) & (c): The Central and State Governments have notified 168 and 11,645 Numbers of Insecticides Inspectors respectively under the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968 to check the use of spurious pesticides. In 2014-15 a total of 51167 numbers of pesticides samples were collected by pesticides inspectors for analysis. It was found that 1260 numbers of pesticides samples i.e. 2.46% of the total were found to be misbranded and consequently prosecution has been launched in 296 numbers of cases.

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(d): The Pesticides Management Bill, 2008 is pending in the Parliament with a view to substitute the Insecticides Act, 1968. The Bill has proposed more stringent punishment for import, manufacture, sale etc. of spurious pesticides. Further, the Bill also proposes compensation under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

(e): Monitoring of quality of pesticides is a shared responsibility between the Central and State Governments. Central Government and State Governments have notified 168 and 11,645 Insecticides Inspectors respectively to carry out inspections of manufacturing, storage and sale points etc., and quality assurance of pesticides. The Central Government has established a Central Insecticides Laboratory and two Regional Pesticides Testing Laboratories at Chandigarh and Kanpur. The Central Government has also supported State Governments through financial assistance to set up 68 State Pesticides Testing Laboratories so far. Prosecution is initiated in the competent courts of law in cases of violations of the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968.



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