Executive Summary:
This document presents the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding the excessive use of pesticides on crops and its potential link to fatal diseases. It outlines the measures taken to ensure pesticide safety, promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and educate farmers on alternative farming methods. The document also includes an annexure detailing awareness campaigns conducted by Central Integrated Pest Management Centers (CIPMCs) during 2024-25.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Pesticide Regulation and Safety:**
* Pesticides are approved for use only after efficacy and safety evaluations to prevent risks to humans, animals, and the environment.
* The Registration Committee (RC), under the Insecticides Act, 1968, approves pesticide usage details (doses, crops, precautions) based on studies and field trials.
* Registered pesticides, when used according to label instructions, are considered safe for humans, animals, and the environment.
* **Disease Incidence:**
* The Ministry has not received specific reports linking the rise of fatal diseases like cancer to excessive pesticide use on crops.
* **Integrated Pest Management (IPM):**
* The government promotes IPM, emphasizing cultural, mechanical, and biological methods to minimize chemical pesticide use.
* Judicious use of chemical pesticides is suggested as a last resort.
* **Awareness and Training Programs:**
* The Ministry conducts training programs through CIPMCs, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and State Agriculture Departments.
* These programs educate farmers about alternative methods like biopesticides, biostimulants, organic farming, and mixed farming.
* **Biopesticide Promotion:**
* Simplified guidelines exist for the registration of biopesticides.
* Commercialization is permitted during the provisional registration period of two years.
* **Awareness Campaign Data (2024-25):**
* CIPMCs conducted 720 campaigns reaching 21,271 participants across various states.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Farmers are affected by the policies and guidelines surrounding pesticide use, as well as the promotion of alternative farming methods.
* Action Required: Farmers should participate in training programs offered by CIPMCs, KVKs, and State Agriculture Departments to learn about IPM and alternative farming practices. They should adhere to label instructions when using pesticides.
State Agriculture Departments:
* Impact: Responsible for collaborating in training programs and disseminating information about IPM and alternative methods.
* Action Required: Continue to conduct and support training programs for farmers in collaboration with CIPMCs and KVKs.
Central Integrated Pest Management Centers (CIPMCs) & Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs):
* Impact: These centers are central to the implementation of awareness and training programs.
* Action Required: CIPMCs and KVKs are required to continue conducting training programs and awareness campaigns on safe pesticide use and alternative farming methods.
Registration Committee (RC):
* Impact: Accountable for evaluating and approving pesticide usage based on the Insecticides Act, 1968.
* Action Required: Continue to evaluate and approve pesticide usage, update the guidelines, and promote biopesticides.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the question about excessive use of pesticides.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer.
Insecticides Act, 1968: The Indian law governing the regulation of insecticides.
Registration Committee RC: Committee constituted under section 5 of Insecticides Act, 1968, approves the details of doses, crops, precautionary measures, antidotes etc on Label and Leaflets of Pesticides.
Integrated Pest Management IPM: A pest management strategy that utilizes cultural, mechanical, and biological methods to minimize pesticide use.
Central Integrated Pest Management Centers CIPMCs: Centers under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare that conduct training programs on pest management.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras KVKs: Agricultural extension centers in India that provide training and information to farmers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1524
TO BE ANSWERED ON 29TH JULY, 2025
EXCESSIVE USE OF PESTICIDES ON CROPS
1524. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी be
pleased to state:-
(a) whether cases of fatal diseases like cancer is on the rise in the country due to excessive use
of pesticides on crops;
(b) if so, the details thereof and steps taken by the Government to prevent the same;
(c) whether the Government has launched/proposes to an awareness programme for the
farmers about harmful effects of excessive use of pesticides on crops in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof and work done in this regard; and
(e) whether the Government is also considering to educate the farmers about alternate methods
in place of use of harmful pesticides like organic farming, mix farming etc., to increase their
produce and at the same time stay away from harmful pesticides and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (e): Pesticides are allowed for use in the country only after ensuring the efficacy and safety
of the pesticides to prevent risk to human beings or animals or environment and for matters
connected therewith. Based on the studies and field trials conducted at State Agriculture
Universities/ICAR institutes, Registration Committee (RC) constituted under section 5 of
Insecticides Act, 1968, approves the details of doses, crops, precautionary measures, antidotes
etc on Label and Leaflets. The registered pesticides if used as per Label and Leaflets do not
pose any harm to human beings, animals and environment. However, no specific report has
been received in this Ministry on rise of cases of fatal diseases like cancer in the country due to
excessive use of pesticides on crops.
Further, the Government of India promotes the strategy of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
which envisages pest management through cultural, mechanical and biological methods to
prevent the excessive use and improper handling practices of chemical pesticides and only need
based judicious use of chemical pesticides is suggested as last resort. Ministry of Agriculture and
Farmers Welfare through its Central Integrated Pest Management Centers (CIPMCs), Krishi
Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and State Agriculture Departments conduct various training programs to
create awareness among farmers about use of alternate methods like Bio-pesticide, Bio-
stimulants, Organic farming, Mix farming in place of use of harmful pesticides to increase their
production. Also, simplified guidelines have been formulated by the RC for the registration of bio-
pesticides, along with permission for commercialization during the provisional registration period
of two years. The state-wise details of training programmes conducted by CIPMCs is enclosed
as Annexure-I.Annexure-I
Awareness campaigns on Safe & Judicious Use of pesticides conducted by CIPMCs
during 2024-25
State Name of CIPMC 2024-25
No. of Participants
campaigns
Haryana Faridabad 19 666
Himachal Pradesh Solan 3 55
J&K Jammu 6 231
Srinagar 4 164
Punjab Jalandhar 52 1134
Uttar Pradesh Lucknow 60 1976
Gorakhpur 20 1340
Agra 25 600
Uttarakhand Dehradun 17 455
West Bengal Kolkata 19 425
Odisha Bhubaneswar 15 576
Bihar Patna 16 365
Jharkhand Ranchi 48 817
Andaman and Nicobar Portblair 2 41
Assam Guwahati 41 1173
Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar 39 353
Meghalaya Shillong 8 231
Manipur Imphal 8 289
Mizoram Aizwal 14 419
Nagaland Dimapur 9 317
Tripura Agartala 7 170
Karnataka Bengaluru 24 1093
Telangana Hyderabad 35 842
Andhra Pradesh Vijayawada 11 493
Kerala Ernakulam 20 594
Tamil Nadu Trichy 64 2017
Maharashtra Nagpur 22 787
Nasik 11 519
Madhya Pradesh Indore 5 160
Morena 15 857
Gujarat Vadodara 3 143
Goa Madgaon 1 48
Chhattisgarh Raipur 15 613
Rajasthan Sriganganagar 18 299
Jaipur 38 761
Churu 4 178
Barmer 1 35
Suratgarh 1 35
TOTAL 720 21271
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