Death By Spray
A toxic pesticide banned in other countries is used freely in India, reports ANIL VARGHESE
A toxic pesticide banned in other countries is used freely in India, reports ANIL VARGHESE
MONOCROTOPHOS, A common pesticide, is also popular among some Indian farmers for a grimmer purpose: acutely toxic for humans, yet dirt-cheap, it is the instrument most farmers have chosen to end their lives with. A dubious claim to fame for the pesticide industry, even as its effectiveness in pest eradication is highly questionable. A World Health Organisation study found that instances of farmer suicides and accidental poisoning in Sri Lanka halved since the pesticide was banned there a few years ago.
Monocrotophos is banned not just in Sri Lanka. It features in a list of 37 pesticides banned or restricted in other countries pesticides that were to be reviewed in India by a committee constituted by the Ministry of Agriculture in 2005. After two years of deliberation, they issued a report which concluded that the partial prohibition on the use of monocrotophos on vegetables was difficult to enforce and that, since better alternatives were available, pesticide manufacturers and the pesticide associations should be asked to present their views.
Once the pesticide industry presented its view, the committee softened its stand, recalls Habibullah Saiyed, an occupational health expert from the National Institute of Occupational Health and an ex-member of the committee.
As TEHELKA found out through an RTI application, the committee eventually decided against banning monocrotophos and recommended the existing restriction be continued despite having recognised it as ineffective. The committee seems unconcerned by the insecticides acute toxicity for humans. Monocrotophos has the most number of approved manufacturers 15 for any pesticide. This is linked to the fact that it is not banned.
The restricted use of monocrotophos remains meaningless as no restrictions can be imposed once the pesticide reaches the hands of untrained and often illiterate farmers.
THE REVIEW committee of the Agriculture Ministry recommended only two bans on Metoxuron and Chlorfenvinphos but investigations show that they had been unavailable for some time. The chairman of the committee, Mayee, refused comment.
Of the 37 pesticides put under scrutiny, 15 are confirmed or likely carcinogens, 15 are confirmed or suspected endocrine disruptors, 8 are development or reproductive toxins, 11 are groundwater contaminants and 17 are toxic, as revealed by studies carried out by the United States Environmental Protection Authority, the European Union and the World Health Organisation, among others. Yet, it was Metoxuron, long forgotten by farmers and manufacturers alike and one of the least harmless it is not acutely toxic, neurotoxic or carcinogenic among the 37, that was banned. The committee noted that Concerns were not addressed by the manufacturers.
Why would any manufacturer be bothered to address concerns if the chemical wasnt being made in the first place? This all-too-obvious nexus between the pesticide industry and the government does not come as a surprise. After all, research in most agricultural universities in the country is funded by none other than the pesticide industry.
There was no one in the committee to represent the farming community and the public the end-users and the biggest stakeholders in the deal. The result is the committees dubious concern for the livelihood security of the countrys farmers.
In effect, the review committee of the Ministry of Agriculture spent two years and a good portion of taxpayers money to ban two pesticides which were already unavailable in the market.
Deadly Drug Farmers use this pesticite to end their lives
Deadly Drug Farmers use this pesticite to end their lives
From Tehelka Magazine, Vol 6, Issue 11, Dated Mar 21, 2009