Parliament Question: Production of Paraquat

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2542 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5TH AUGUST, 2025 PRODUCTION OF PARAQUAT

2542. SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI:

SHRI BASTIPATI NAGARAJU:

SHRI B K PARTHASARATHI:

SHRI MOHIBBULLAH:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी be

pleased to state:-

(a) the details of the annual production of Paraquat and the number of manufacturing units, classified, State-wise especially in AP;

(b) the details of Paraquat usage in the country over the last five years, year and State-wise, especially in AP;

(c) the details of the list of crops approved for usage of Paraquat by the Government in a State-wise, especially in AP;

(d) the details of the total sales of Paraquat in the last five years, year and company-wise (private and public);

(e) whether the Government has reviewed the safety, environmental and health impacts of Paraquat use, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(f) the amount and value of Paraquat imports during the last five years, including source countries, year-wise; and

(g) whether there is any proposal to regulate, restrict or ban Paraquat due to its reported toxicity and fatalities, if so, the details thereof alongwith regulatory steps or alternatives under consideration? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (g): Registration Committee (RC) constituted under section 5 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 registers pesticides for use in the country after ensuring the efficacy and safety to prevent risk to human beings or animals and for matters connected therewith. Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) periodically reviews the continued use of pesticides either on the basis of report received from the State Governments, suo moto or reports about the pesticides that are banned or restricted in other countries due to toxic concerns or potential harm to human health or the environment.

Further, Registration Committee (RC) in its 361st RC meeting held on 22.12.2015, deliberated the recommendations of Dr. Anupam Verma Committee to review 66 pesticides including Paraquat Dichloride which are currently banned/restricted/ withdrawn in other countries, and accepted its continued use with caution, improved packaging to prevent misuse, and training for medical personnel to handle poisoning cases. Further, a sub- committee has been constituted on the directions of Government of India to review the safety, efficacy and toxicity of Paraquat dichloride.

At present, License for manufacturing of Paraquat is issued to 1503 manufacturing units in the country and out of which 35 are situated in State of Andhra Pradesh. The details of manufacturing units in the State of Andhra Pradesh are enclosed at Annexure-I. The details of Paraquat usage in the country during 2019-20 to 2023-24 in the country is enclosed at Annexure-II, the details of Crops approved for usage of Paraquat is enclosed at Annexure-III and imports of Paraquat from 2019-20 to 2023-24 are placed at Annexure-IV. However, details of annual production and sales of Paraquat are not maintained at the Ministry level.Annexure-I

The Details of manufacturing units of Paraquat in the state of Andhra Prdesh:

S.N. List of Manufacturing units of Paraquat Dichloride in Andhra Pradesh 1 Vasishta Pesticides Pvt Ltd 2 M/s Snochem India 3 Deacons Bio Product Private Limited 4 M/s APL Agro Chemicals 5 M/s Adonis Crop Sciences Private Limited 6 PNR Industries 7 N G Fertilizers and Chemicals Pvt Ltd 8 Omkar Fertilisers Pvt.Ltd.

9 Avento Agro Chemicals 10 Prevents Chem India Private Limited 11 Star Crop Agrochemicals 12 Krysta Crop Solutions Private Limited 13 Elaine Crop Care India Private Limited 14 SMR Agro Nutrients Private Limited 15 Asian Crop Care 16 Sovereign Agri Industries 17 M/s. Jhass Agro Industries 18 Hindustan Agro Insecticides 19 Exce Fine Chemicals 20 Miracle Crop Science 21 Hi Tech Pharma 22 Gautami Chemicals and Pesticides private Limited 23 Idhyah Agri Crop Sciences Pvt. Limited 24 Kissan Agri Technology 25 M/s Kemicides Crop Protection Company 26 Devatha Agrofarms LLP 27 Bhairav Agri Science Private Limited 28 Agrovero Crop Science Private Lmited 29 M/s Vasishta Pesticides Pvt Ltd 30 M/s Southern Pest Control 31 M/S S.L Industries 32 BHL Rasayan Udyog India Pvt. Limited 33 Terra Chemicals Co.

34 Kissan Bio Formulations 35 Lotus BiotechAnnexure-II The Details of Paraquat usage in the country during 2019-20 to 2023-24:

Pesticides 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 Paraquat Dichloride (Consumption in metric 113.18 74.49 104.97 97.69 105.06 tons)Annexure-III

The Details of the list of crops approved for usage of Paraquat:

S. No. Name of Crops 1 Tea 2 Potato 3 Cotton 4 Rubber 5 Coffee 6 Rice 7 Wheat 8 Maize 9 Grapes 10 Apple 11 Aquatic Weed Control, Water ways Canals, Ponds Etc.Annexure-IV The Details of Paraquat imports during 2019-20 to 2023-24:

Pesticides Group 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 Paraquat Dichloride (Import in Metric Tonne) Herbicides 8598 14436 15272 20786 Not available *****