Parliament Question: Research and awareness against Paraquat poisoning

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3849 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27/03/2026 RESEARCH AND AWARENESS AGAINST PARAQUAT POISONING 3849. SHRI K.R. SURESH REDDY: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:- (a) the number of people who have sought treatment for paraquat poisoning between January, 2025 and January, 2026, State/UT wise; (b) the number of mortalities due to paraquat poisoning between January, 2025 and January, 2026, State/UT-wise; (c) whether Government has conducted/commissioned any research on the impact of paraquats on human and environmental health; (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and (e) the steps taken by Government to raise awareness on the harmful effects of paraquats amongst vulnerable population? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): Specific information related to number of people who have sought treatment for paraquat poisoning and mortalities due to its poisoning is not maintained in this Department. (c) to (e): The 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. Further, the Government of India, from time to time keeps reviewing the continued use or otherwise of the pesticides which are banned or severely restricted in other countries of the world due to their toxic concerns or have been reported to pose harm to human health or environment in our country or other countries of the world. These reviews are undertaken by constituting special committees or through the RC.Based on the recommendations of Expert committee, the Government has banned, severely restricted and withdrawn refused registration of many pesticides used for agriculture (including pesticides used on fruits and vegetables) and non-agriculture purposes. Further, 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 Anupam Verma Committee to review 66 pesticides including Paraquat Dichloride which are currently banned/restricted/ withdrawn in other countries. RC based on the Committee recommendations, accepted its continued use with caution, improved packaging to prevent misuse, and training for medical personnel to handle poisoning cases. The Central Government has also constituted a committee in 2026 to review toxicity, adverse effect and safety of Paraquat Dichloride. Further, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, through its Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and State Agriculture Departments, undertakes various training programs, including to educate and train farmers, State agriculture extension functionaries, and pesticide dealers on the use of recommended pesticides, safe handling practices and need-based judicious use of pesticides including Paraquat Dichloride, and also the use of chemical pesticides as a last resort only. Since 2020-21, 1537 Farmers Field Schools (FFS) training covering 51,808 farmers, 605 two-days HRD programs covering 32,983 farmers, and 2,466 safe and judicious use of pesticide awareness campaigns covering 79,185 farmers have been conducted by the Department. *****