PESTICIDES SEIZED AFTER 45 FARMERS DIE

Following the deaths of over 45 farmers due to pesticide poisoning in Vidarbha, the quality control wing of state agriculture department on Wednesday seized pesticides worth ₹14.31 crore from Akola in western Vidarbha.

The Maharashtra State Agriculture Mission chairman Kishore Tiwari, however, claimed that 48 farmers died of pesticide poisoning. According to information, the quality control sleuths of Akola, accompanied by a team of agriculture commissionerate, Pune, raided 12 different godowns of pesticide companies and sealed those stocked and prevented their sales.

At least 45 farmers died due to suspected pesticide poisoning in Vidarbha since August this year and most of the deaths were reported from Yavatmal, a major cotton-growing district that has often been in the news for farmer suicides. They died after spraying pesticides on their Bt cotton plantations in the region.

Milind Janjal, the quality control chief of Akola agriculture department, admitted that they have raided at least 12 pesticide godowns in the district and sealed the stock to prevent further sale.