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 TakenGlobal Level
India
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