Promoting bio-pesticides in the Northeast

 The pesticide industry in India has grown to the size of Rs 50,000 crore as its use to protect agricultural crops from pests and diseases has increased manifold. It has been one of the key contributors to the six-fold growth in the country’s food grain production, from 52 million metric tonnes to more than 300 million metric tonnes in the seven decades of the post-independence period since 1951. Health hazards from the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides have also grown, due to which the clamour for bio-pesticides in the country is growing louder. Official data shows that bio-pesticides account for only 4.2% of the overall pesticide market in the country, which is reflective of the challenges in reducing the hazardous effects of chemical pesticides and insecticides. As synthetic chemical pesticides leave a certain amount of residue in the soil after application, indiscriminate and excessive use contaminates soil, water, and other vegetation and also affects birds, fish, beneficial insects like honeybees, etc. Scientific studies conducted by the Central Eri Muga Research Training Institute have shown that insecticides used by tea gardens in Assam are adversely affecting Muga silkworms and thereby affecting the production of the Golden Silk. In sharp contrast, organic, neem-based, and bio-pesticides are less toxic, affect only the targeted pests, and do not leave any chemical residues on plants or soil. Despite the huge increase in industry size, India accounts for only one percent of the global share in the use of insecticides and pesticides, with China leading the chart with 43%, followed by the United States with 10%. The higher use of insecticides and pesticides in those countries is attributed to intensive and more commercial farming. A report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers states that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) under the Insecticides Act, 1968, and the Insecticides Rules, 1971, reviews the use as well as banning of pesticides, which are reported to pose harm to human health and the environment. It has so far banned or phased out as many as 46 pesticides and four pesticide formulations, besides withdrawing the registration of eight pesticides and placing nine pesticides under restricted use. The report points out that even though organic and Neem-based pesticides are less toxic and do not leave any synthetic residue in crop produce and soil, they are currently manufactured by only a few organisations in the country, and specific information with respect to companies in the private sector planning to produce bio-pesticides is not even available with the Government Department. The Committee has made an important recommendation on exploring ways and means to overcome the limitations and impediments for effective large-scale use of these pesticides so that their full potential can be realised and they are put to use by the farming community. This recommendation bears great significance for states like Assam in effectively addressing the menace of excessive use of pesticides contaminating vegetables supplied to markets in Guwahati and other places. The Gauhati High Court, while passing an order on a public interest litigation, had directed the state government to take effective measures to address the public health risk posed by the supply of contaminated vegetables containing unacceptable levels of chemicals in Guwahati and curb the entry of such vegetables into the city markets. The Food and Civil Supplies Department, however, lacked the required number of testing equipment to test a sufficient number of samples. Promotion of the use of organic and bio-pesticides in such a situation is a better alternative to curbing excessive use of chemical pesticides. The Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology's (IPFT) development of environment-friendly new-generation pesticide formulation technology has triggered fresh hopes of reducing harmful pesticides in the country. The committee’s report highlights that IPFT has developed 80 user- and environment-friendly pesticide formulation technologies that are being used by the industry. It is heartening to know that besides developing various technologies for different bio-botanical pesticides and bacterial formulations, IPFT is also conducting training programmes for farmers to promote the use of botanical-based crop protection products, as stated in the report. The IPFT proposes to set up four advanced research centres (ARCs) in Assam, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. The parliamentary panel has recommended expediting the examination and processing of the proposal received from IPFT, in which these states can play a crucial role. Traditional farming practices among indigenous communities in Assam and other states are organic in nature, but modern competitive marketing has led to increased use of chemical fertilisers and chemical pesticides. Due to the failure of the agriculture department to reach out to all farmers to train them on correct usage, a large section of farmers procure from markets and apply, which has led to excessive use. This is a worrying development that needs to be addressed urgently. Bio-pesticides need to be promoted in the region to preserve its uniqueness as the organic basket of India.