Question : Pesticide Poisoning

(a) the number of farmers who died due to use of pesticides in Maharashtra during the last three years and the current year, especially during September-October 2017, district-wise;

(b) whether the Union Government has received any recommendations from the State Government of Maharashtra on the tragic death of 40 farmers and farm labourers in the State due to pesticide poisoning and if so, the details of such recommendations;

(c) whether any organisation/agency/ mission has demanded Government intervention in this matter so that officers showing negligence in such deaths may be identified and taken to task;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard; and

(e) the measures being taken by the Government to educate and train the farmers on handling of pesticides and toxic substances so as to contain such deaths in future?

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
???? ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããè (SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 149 DUE FOR REPLY ON 6TH MARCH, 2018.
(a): As per the information received from the Maharashtra Government, the following casualties have been reported due to handling of pesticides:
S.No. Year Casualties
1 2014-15 89
2 2015-16 47
3 2016-17 73
4 2017-18 63

The district wise details of casualties during the current year is at Annexure-I.

(b): The State Government of Maharashtra has requested the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to issue guidelines to include the mandatory condition for pest control operators for spraying hazardous categories of pesticides on crop within the purview of the Insecticides Act, 1968 and to make it compulsory for the pest control operators to obtain the license.

(c) & (d): Yes, the National Human Rights Commission has asked the State Government of Maharashtra to inform the Commission about the steps taken against the officers found guilty. As informed by the State Government, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been appointed to probe pesticides poisoning cases and to propose proactive policies and strategies to prevent such incidence in future. SIT has since submitted its report to the Government of Maharashtra.

(e): The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has established 35 Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) across the Country. These CIPMCs, inter alia, conduct Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) to sensitize farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, and safe and judicious use of chemical pesticides as a last resort as per approved labels and leaflets. In the last three years, a total of 1971 FFSs have been organized, sensitizing 59130 farmers.
Contd…2/-

-2-

In addition, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare has established National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) as an autonomous body. The National Institute of Plant Health Management is mandated to promote environmentally sustainable Plant Health Management practices in diverse and changing agro-climatic conditions, Bio security & Incursion Management through capacity building programmes for farmers and State Agriculture/Extension functionaries.

Furthermore, Regular advisories on pest management are being shared with the States for their timely dissemination to the farmers through their extension functionaries. The State Governments through various forums such as Zonal Conferences and National Conference are requested to exhort their extension functionaries to educate and impart training to farmers on efficacious and sustainable pest management strategies and approaches.