According to the industry sources, the government’s move of banning some pesticides supports the idea of ‘Make in India’.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (the Government of India) has issued an order to ban the use of 27 insecticides and pesticides in the country. The order prohibits distribution, transport, sale, manufacturing, and import of 27 types of insecticides and pesticides in India. The government bans the use of pesticides such as Sulfosulfuron, Quinalphos, Pendimethalin, Oxyfluorfen, Methomyl, Mancozeb, Malathion, Diuron, Dinocap, Dimethoate, Dicofol, Deltamethrin, Chlorpyriphos, Carbofuran, 4D, Captan, Butachlor, Benfuracarb, Atrazine, and Acephate.
The announcement is the accumulation of the long-pending process initiated by Anupam Varma committee. Moreover, the government has given 45 days to the industry and companies manufacturing the above-mentioned chemicals to register any objections. By submitting detailed data, manufacturers of insecticide and pesticide are opposing the government’s decision. Pesticide India Ltd MD Rajesh Aggarwal said the government’s move will not only affect farmers, however, it also exports as a list of chemicals for a 5th of the total pesticide industry. According to the industry sources, the government’s move of banning some pesticides supports the idea of ‘Make in India’.
However, the government has issued an order banning 27 insecticides and pesticides, when the country is already battling the novel coronavirus (COVID19 pandemic). Moreover, this will increase the cost of farming and will affect food security in the country. Back in 2018, the government banned the use of 18 pesticides. Around 63 countries such as the United Kingdom, those in the European Union, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, and Argentina have already banned the use of the above-mentioned 27 pesticides. Pesticides such as acephate and Monocrotophos have taken the lives of many farmers in Vidharbha, Maharashtra, India. However, the replacement of these may cost about 6 times more and may put a burden on the farmers in India.