FSSAI urged states to establish an Inter-ministerial Committee to reduce pesticide use

Posted 24 Aug 2024

2 min read

Inter-ministerial Committee will focus on reducing pesticide use, implementing control measures, and developing strategies to monitor and regulate pesticide application at the farmer level.

The initiative aims to ensure food safety, safe and sustainable agricultural practices and protect consumers from health risks.

Pesticides and its Usage in India

Pesticides are used to kill, prevent, reduce, destroy or repel a pest. It broadly constitutes insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and bio-pesticides. .
- Herbicides (kill/control the growth of weeds) have the largest market share at 44% (as of 2023)
>60,000 tonnes of chemical pesticides are used annually (b/w 2019-20 and 2021-22).
- India's consumption is 0.5 kg/hectare(compared to 17 kg/hectare in some countries)
States with highest Consumption: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Telangana
Regulated under the Insecticides Act, 1968.

Impact of pesticides

On humans: Leads cancer, affect the hormone or endocrine system. E.g. Acephate (classified as Potential Carcinogens by the US EPA).
On Agriculture: Decline of Pollinators, etc.
On Environment: Surface and Groundwater contamination, affect non-target plants, fish, etc.

Measures to be Taken

Encourage Integrated Pest Management, Bio-pesticides
Establish appropriate body to administer the Insecticides Act, 1968. (Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers)
- The Act is administered by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and is kept outside the purview of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals.

Initiatives Taken

Global Level

Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management (FARM) programme implemented by UNEP and other agencies and financed through Global Environment Facility (GEF).