Banned pesticides save crop losses, says panel
The Centre has not taken a decision to lift a ban on 24 of the 27 pesticides curbed by many countries, especially in Europe, but an expert committee found the chemicals potentially save massive crop losses while key Union ministries apprehended food-security risks from deregistering them, two people aware of the matter said.
In January 2021, the agriculture ministry had formed a scientific panel led by TP Rajendran, a former assistant director general of ICAR, to study all aspects of these pesticides, including their efficacy, toxicity, impact on farming, food security, and their global status.
The department of chemicals and fertilisers, in its inputs, said manufacturers, especially small and medium, had made substantial investments for making these chemicals and their proscription would “jeopardize” the industry, one of the people said.
Along with malathion, deltamethrin is an insecticide of choice used to protect grains in scientifically managed storage facilities, the food ministry said in its inputs, a second official said. The commerce ministry said India’s pesticide export
UNION MINISTRIES FEAR FOODSECURITY RISKS ON DEREGISTERING CHEMICALS
could take a hit of nearly ₹10,000 crore if these pesticides are de-registered.
A member of the Rajendran panel said that over 600 farmer organisations and even states did not favour a ban, as it will increase cultivation costs by up to 20-22%, leading to food inflation. “Applied scientifically, they are not harmful. Also, a ban on these pesticides would also result in imports of costlier alternatives,” a pesticide industry representative said, requesting anonymity.