**Subject:** Policy on Sale of Pesticides and Agrochemicals to Farmers in India
**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 290, answered on July 22, 2025, regarding the sale of pesticides and agrochemicals to farmers in India. The question inquired about the safeguards in place to protect farmers' interests when multinational companies sell these products.
The response, provided by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, clarifies that the Government of India regulates the manufacture, sale, and use of pesticides through the Insecticides Act, 1968, and Insecticides Rules, 1971. Pesticides are permitted for use only after efficacy and safety evaluations to mitigate risks to humans, animals, and the environment.
All manufacturers, including multinational corporations, are required to provide comprehensive information on pesticide labels and leaflets. This includes details on dosage, target crops, usage instructions, toxicity information (toxicity triangle), safety pictograms, precautionary measures, and antidotes.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, through its Central Integrated Pest Management Centers (CIPMCs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and State Agriculture Departments, conducts training programs. These programs educate farmers, state agriculture extension workers, and pesticide dealers on the safe and appropriate use of pesticides, emphasizing adherence to label claims and safe handling practices. Training also covers the use of protective clothing, including outer garments/overalls/hood/hat, hand gloves, eye goggles, nose masks, and boots, to minimize adverse health effects.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI RAHUL SINGH LODHI: Member of LOK SABHA who raised the unstarred question.
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE: The government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare who provided the answer.
Insecticides Act, 1968: Comprehensive legislation regulating the manufacture, sale, and use of pesticides in India.
Insecticides Rules, 1971: Rules enacted to enforce the Insecticides Act, 1968.
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 science centers that conduct training programs for farmers.
State Agriculture Departments: Departments responsible for agriculture in various states of India, involved in farmer education.
O.I.H
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 290
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22ND JULY, 2025
SALE OF PESTICIDE AND AGROCHEMICALS TO FARMERS
290. SHRI RAHUL SINGH LODHI:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the multinational companies allowed to sell pesticides and agricultural
chemicals to farmers in the country are made bound to keep the interests of the
farmers in mind;
(b) if so, the details of the interests of the farmers the Government keeps in mind while
allowing the companies to sell pesticides;
(c) if not, whether the Government proposes to formulate any policy to provide free safety
material like eye goggles, nose masks and hand gloves to the farmers while
purchasing pesticides and agricultural chemicals to protect the farmers from the
adverse effects of pesticides on their health; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
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 (d): The Government of India regulates the manufacture, sale and the use of
pesticides in the country through comprehensive legislation known as Insecticides Act,
1968 and Insecticides Rules, 1971 and 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. Further, all the
manufacturers including multinational companies are mandated to prescribe the details of
doses, crops, usage instructions, toxicity triangle, safety pictograms, precautionary
measures, antidotes etc. on Label and Leaflets of pesticides for the benefit of farmers.
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through its Central Integrated Pest
Management Centers (CIPMCs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and State Agriculture
Departments, undertakes various training programs to educate farmers, state agriculture
extension workers, and pesticide dealers on the use of pesticides according to their label
claim, safe handling practices of pesticides and the use of Protective clothing such as
protective outer garment/overalls/hood/hat, hand gloves, eye goggles, nose masks and
boots to protect the farmers from the adverse effects of pesticides on their health.
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