Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab pesticide consumption down to less than 5,000 tonnes

BATHINDA: Even as 27 pesticides potentially dangerous to human beings and animals are set to be banned, Punjab seems to be going on pesticide detox after decades of abuse. Provisional data of the Union agriculture ministry suggests that consumption of technical grade pesticides has come down to less than 5,000 t onnes for 2019-20 in Punjab. Punjab consumed 4,930 tonnes of pesticides in 2019-20, down from 5,543 tonnes in 2018-19, registering over 10% decline in consumption. In 2017-18, Punjab consumed 5,835 tonnes of pesticides, in 2016-17 consumption was recorded at 5,843 tonnes, in 2015-16 it was 5,743 tonnes and in 2014-15, Punjab consumed 5,689 tonnes of pesticides. Although there is progress, Punjab continues to be at third spot in pesticide consumption across the country after Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. However, per hectare consumption of pesticide in Punjab is one of the highest in the country at .74 kg/hectares as suggested in 2016-17 data. The national average for the time was .60kg per hectares. Use of pesticides increased after the Green Revolution, when Punjab contributed immensely in increasing food production. Punjab constitutes only 1.54% of the total geographical area of the country but accounts for 2.5% arable area at 4.023 million hectares as against 159.7 million tonne arable area in the country. However, its share of pesticide use is over 8%. In 2014-15 and 2015-16, it was over 10%. The reduction in pesticide consumption, therefore, comes as good news. “It has happened due to persistent and collective efforts. Farm and food experts as well as environmentalists have been making earnest efforts to decrease the use of pesticides and insecticides. Besides, consumers’ preference for less chemical induced food has helped. Farmers are also becoming aware of the pitfalls of overuse of chemical pesticides,” said farm policy expert Devinder Sharma. Sharma added that people in Punjab also associate pesticides with cancer, culminating in the dreaded cancer belt. Still, he said, this year there could be an increase in pesticide consumption because much of paddy transplantation has been done through direct seeded rice (DSR) technique. Nevertheless, Umendra Dutt, executive director, Kheti Virasar Mission, who promotes organic farming, feels farmers need to turn to zero budget natural farming(ZBNF). Decrease in the use of pesticides will also play a positive role in saving the environment from further degradation. Ministry of agriculture and farmers' welfare has sought feedback on banning of 27 pesticides/insecticides till August 11. In August 2018, 18 pesticides were banned. Farm, food experts and environmentalists are raising their voice to ban these pesticides at the earliest.

The Times of India

2020-08-02

Amritsar