(a) whether the Government has asked agro chemicals industry to come up with innovative solutions to deal with the new pest attacks on crops that affect yields;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is true that the Government will focus on protecting the data of new molecules;
(d) whether the Government is giving more stress on increasing awareness among farmers to help identify spurious insecticides and pesticides sold in the market; and
(e) if so, the details thereof ?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
???? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)
(a) & (b): The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is encouraging and promoting use of safe and environmental friendly solutions, such as bio-pesticides against pest attacks. To encourage and promote the use of bio-pesticides the Registration Committee (RC), inter alia, has simplified the guidelines for data submission and is providing provisional registration for bio-pesticides.
(c): There is no provision of data protection under the Insecticides Act, 1968.
(d) & (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 per approved labels and leaflets. In the last three years, a total of 2043 FFSs have been organized for sensitizing farmers.
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