Pesticide sale: State for tougher curbs, tells Centre to amend act
Haryana and UP also raise the issue with Union agriculture ministry; Punjab’s basmati consignments were rejected by EU, Middle East countries over high-pesticide residue last year
We can’t do much as the sale of pesticides is controlled by the central act. In the absence of a strong law, we cannot stop the companies from selling pesticides. KS PANNU, secretary agriculture
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government and agrarian states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have sought amendment in the central act that controls the sale of pesticides and weedicides.
In a discussion with officials of the Union ministry of agriculture last week, the state government conveyed that the Insecticide Act, 1968, is doing more harm than good. The discussion was held through video-conferencing in which Haryana and Uttar Pradesh officials also raised the same issue.
The Punjab agriculture commission had listed 20 pesticides and insecticides that it said should be banned in the state. Similar suggestions were made by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana.
“We cannot do much as the sale of pesticides and insecticides is controlled by the central act. We can only stop sale for 60 days in a season, which is extendable by 30 more days. But that does not help our cause,” said secretary agriculture KS Pannu.
“In the absence of a strong law, we cannot stop the companies from selling pesticides. Apart from curtailing the use, there is a need to upgrade to new generation of pesticides with lesser residues,” Pannu said.
The export of Punjab’s premium basmati rice suffered a major setback last year, when countries in the European Union and the Middle East rejected consignments over traces of insecticides more than the permissible limits for human consumption.
Though the state government and the rice exporters association were able to bring down the use of pesticides in the basmati crop, farmers continue to resort to a heavy use of insecticides in other crops.
“We have flagged the issue with the Union ministry officials who are convinced of our suggestions. We are hopeful they will amend the act,” said additional chief secretarycum-financial commissioner Viswajeet Khanna, who heads the state agriculture department. Punjab Agricultural University vice-chancellor BS Dhillon said the use of insecticides, weedicides, pesticides and fungicides in the state has come down from a high of 7,200 tonnes in 2001-2002 to 5,843 tonnes in 2016-17. It is estimated to fall to 5,690 tonnes in 2017-18, Dhillon further said.
“Glyfosate weedicide is not for use in Punjab because it is recommended for tea gardens and barren land. The government is proposing ban on the weedicide. In the absence of powers in the act it is to be seen how effective the ban remains,” Pannu said.
KHAIRA WELCOMES PHOOLKA’S ‘BOLD MOVE’
Rebel AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira has welcomed Dakha MLA Harvinder Singh Phoolka’s move to quit the party.
“His decision to quit the company of dictators is a bold one. The call to focus on the state of affairs in the SGPC is also an appreciable move,” he said.
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Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal on Friday said it is clear from the resignation of HS Phoolka that the Congress and AAP are together and people will not forgive them.
Sukhbir was in the Gidderbaha and Malout constituencies in Muktsar to meet his party workers.