As the Madhya Pradesh takes lead in the country in terms of agriculture growth rate at an impressive 14 per cent, the State also would do well to address the problem of fake pesticides. The issue has come into sharper focus recently after the Food & Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (UN FAO) issued advisory to developing countries to phase out hazardous pesticides.
Farmers in Hoshangabad district have reported cases of fake pesticides, often sold as bio-pesticides, hampering their crops as well as livelihoods. This is the peak Soybean season and farmers suspect they are prone to cheating and passed on with fake and illegal pesticide. Soybean, which is also exported, will also be at the risk of higher scrutiny and even rejections as importing countries insist on use of legal pesticides only.
Vice-Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Vijay Singh Tomar said that our farmers deserved to be protected from the harmful effects of fake pesticides. “According to the Insecticides Act of 1968, bio-pesticides or biologically derived products claiming pest control activities are to be formally registered, with supporting data. If bio-products sold in the market with claims for pest and disease control are not properly registered as bio-pesticides, they are essentially illegal,” said former principal DG, Press Information Bureau and member of Fijeeha (Forum for Indian Journalists on Energy, Environment, Health & Agriculture) Umakant Mishra.
Sample analysis of some bio-products show that they contain pesticide active ingredients and therefore show biological activity on pests. However, they are not are registered and officially marketed as bio-products. “It is a matter of serious concern for the whole agricultural industry that illegal bio-products are openly sold as pesticides,” added Mishra.
Congress Member of Parliament from Dhar Gajendra Singh Rajukhedi said, “We need to strengthen monitoring on dealers and distributors, who are aggravating the problem and strict action should follow. We should create a system of cooperatives for pesticides.” Former chairman of Agricultural Science Recruitment Board, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) CD Mayee recommended strict controls and star ratings to pesticide companies.
“Monitor those closely who do not have star ratings. Also there is a need to intensify measures to ensure adherence to the legal framework. State machineries should become more vigilant,” he added. Besides affecting their productivity, fake pesticides can pose severe health risks to farmers, cause damage to environment, jeopardize exports of crops such as soybean from MP, and affect tax revenues of the state government.