Question : PRODUCTION OF PESTICIDES

(a) whether pesticides are being manufactured by domestic industries in the country;

(b) if so, the details of pesticides manufactured in the country during each of the last three years and current year along with their standard and quality;

(c) the details of the demand of pesticides during the said period in the country, State-wise;

(d) whether the Government has been importing pesticides to meet the domestic demand of the pesticides; and

(e) if so, the details of pesticides imported during the said period?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

(a):Yes, Madam.

(b):Production of pesticides during the last three years is at Annexure-I.

Quality of pesticides is regulated under various provisions of the Insecticides Act. 1968 and Rules framed there under by the Govern- ment of India. Under the Insecticides Act, 1968, there is a mandatory requirement of seeking a manufacturing license by each manufacturer in addition to the product registration. The enforcement of various provisions of the Insecticides Act mainly rests with the State Govern- ments.

There is a network of 68 State Pesticides Testing Laboratories (SPTLs) in 23 States and 1 UT with total annual capacity of 72160 samples. The pesticides samples drawn by Insecticide Inspectors, as per provision of the Insecticides Act, 1968 are analyzed at SPTLs or at two Regional Pesticides Testing Laboratories.

(c): The quantum of consumption of pesticides, state-wise, during the last three years is at Annexure-II.

(d) & (e): Yes, Madam. Government has allowed imports of pesticides. Details of pesticides imported during the said period are at Annexure-III.