Question : Use of Pesticides

(a) the number of large, medium and small scale industries in the country which produced pesticides;

(b) the per hectare quantum of chemicals/pesticides being used for agriculture production in the country;

(c) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn towards the adverse impacts of pesticides on human beings, acquatic plants, acquatic life and soil, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to promote the production and use of bio-fertilizers by giving the status of industry to bio-fertilizer production and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã ??? ????? ?????? ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ À㕾㠽ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a): No specific information is available with Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage. However, as per the information received from Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, information on selected Technical Grade Pesticides is collected from 32 large and medium scale units only.

(b): As per the Economic Survey 2015-16, India’s pesticides usage is 0.5 kg per hectare.

(c): The Registration Committee, constituted under Section 5 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 registers pesticides after considering its efficacy and safety to human beings, animals and environment. Pesticides used as per approved labels and leaflets are unlikely to cause any harm to human health. In additions, technical reviews are carried out from time to time to assess the safety of pesticides for their continued use.

(d): The Government is encouraging the use of organic/bio-fertilizers through various schemes/programmes viz: National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)/Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). Under the said schemes, financial assistance is provided to the State Government for setting up of State of the art liquid/carrier based Bio-fertilizer/Bio-pesticide units and for establishment/strengthening of Bio-fertilizer and Organic fertilizer testing quality control Laboratory. In addition, financial assistance is provided to farmers for Integrated Manure Management.

*******