Government’s Decision to Continue Use of 24 Essential Pesticides

Context: 

The Indian Government after an extensive review of 27 pesticides decided to continue the use of 24 pesticides and banned the use of Dicofol, Dinocap, and Methomyl in India.

About Pesticides

They are any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, or controlling any pest.

Classification of Pesticides by Different Targets of Pests

• Fungicides – Fungi, Insecticides – Insects,
• Herbicides – Plants, and
• Rodenticides – Rodent (mice and rats)

Status of Pesticides In India

• Stats of Pesticides Use: According to FAO, India used over 61,000 tonnes of pesticides in 2020, which is relatively lower than that of Brazil, China, and Argentina
• India is the fourth Largest Producer in the world.
• Major Exporting Destinations: USA, Japan, China, and Brazil.
• Exported Agrochemical: The most prominent agrochemicals exported include Mancozeb, Acephate, Chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin, and Profenos.
• States Consuming Most Pesticides:  Maharashtra has consumed the most chemical pesticides in India in the past five years followed by UP and Punjab.

Benefits of Pesticides

• Boost Yield: Pesticides, by reducing crop losses, help farmers achieve higher food production on existing land. Approximately one-third of agricultural products rely on pesticides.
• Enhance Farmer Income and Guarantee

• Food Security: It can help achieve the goal of doubling Farmers Income.
• Improved Crop Quality: By controlling pests that blemish or damage crops, pesticides can help maintain higher quality produce, allowing farmers to command better prices for their crops in the market.
• Reduced Losses: Pests can significantly damage crops which can be minimised with pesticides and a larger portion of the harvest will reach the market contributing to farmers’ income.
• Expand the Scope of Export Potential: Agriculture accounts for 14% of merchandise exports and the value of India’s agricultural exports was $52 billion in the year 2022-23 according to the Commerce Ministry. 
  • The ministry has set a target for commodities exports to cross $100 billion.

Regulations of Pesticides in India

• Insecticides Act, of 1968: It was brought with a view of regulating the import, manufacturing, sale, transport, distribution, and use of insecticides and pesticides to prevent the risk to human beings and animals. Insecticides Rules, 1971: describes the capabilities of the Board (CIB), Registration Committee (RC) and the Central Insecticide Laboratory (CIL).
• The experiences in administering this act over the last five decades have exposed certain gaps. In this context, the Union Cabinet approved the Pesticides Management Bill 2020.

Way Ahead

• Cut Down Exposure Risk: 
  • Use of  drones, sensor-based Internet of Things (IoT) will help farmers deliver more precise doses of pesticides.
  • Enable farmers to spray their fields remotely and cut down exposure risks.
• Safety Advancements: With rigorous studies on crop requirements, the pesticide requirements can be reduced gradually.
• Greater Say to State Governments: to regulate pesticides as they have a better idea about the agro-ecological aspects of their state.
• Green Alternative: Promotion of  organic farming through schemes like Paramapragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVV). Example- Sikkim became the world’s first 100% organic state.