Neeleswaram (Kasaragod): Apparently yielding to intensified anti-Endosulfan campaign in the State, the State government has announced a blanket ban on the use of highly hazardous ‘red' and ‘yellow' category pesticides in Kasaragod district with immediate effect.
An order to this effect was handed over to Principal Agriculture Officer S. Sivaprasad by Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran at a function here on Friday to mark the district-level inauguration of ‘Harithayoram' project that envisaged utilising waste land stretching along either side of the National Highway passing through the district for vegetable and banana cultivation.
The Minister's announcement would bring into force a permanent ban on highly hazardous pesticides like Thimmet, Furadan and Endosulfan used by farmers and State-owned Plantation Corporation of Kerala's cashew estates in 11 panchayat
s in the district, an official said.
The ban would be enforced in other districts in a phased manner, he said. The Minister's announcement was received with loud applause from the gathering. It also comes on the ‘Global No Pesticides Day' that coincides with the 26th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy. Thousands of people died after the leak from U.S. company Union Carbide's plant in Bhopal.
The ban of Endosulfan pesticide whose prolonged aerial spraying in the cashew estates of Plantation Corporation of Kerala for over two decades had been attributed as the sole cause for life of misery and trauma being suffered by hundreds of people. Around 500 people had succumbed to mysterious diseases, while over 2,200 people are leading an agonising life where the pesticide had been used extensively.
The Minister urged the people to go back to organic farming to ensure food security and stop excess dependence on vegetables grown in neighbouring States. Describing ‘Harithayoram' project, that envisages utilising nearly 500 hectares of waste land lying on either side of the National Highway from Kalikadavu town to Thalapady, as his ‘dream project,' the Minister said the project was conceived to ensure food security by cultivating vegetables and bananas using organic farming methods.
Kerala, which boasts of rich biodiversity, unfortunately had to depend extensively on other States for essential food items, including fruits, vegetables and paddy, he said attributing the dismal scenario to low priority accorded to farming.
Source: The Hindu, 4-12-2010
An order to this effect was handed over to Principal Agriculture Officer S. Sivaprasad by Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran at a function here on Friday to mark the district-level inauguration of ‘Harithayoram' project that envisaged utilising waste land stretching along either side of the National Highway passing through the district for vegetable and banana cultivation.
The Minister's announcement would bring into force a permanent ban on highly hazardous pesticides like Thimmet, Furadan and Endosulfan used by farmers and State-owned Plantation Corporation of Kerala's cashew estates in 11 panchayat
s in the district, an official said.The ban would be enforced in other districts in a phased manner, he said. The Minister's announcement was received with loud applause from the gathering. It also comes on the ‘Global No Pesticides Day' that coincides with the 26th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy. Thousands of people died after the leak from U.S. company Union Carbide's plant in Bhopal.
The ban of Endosulfan pesticide whose prolonged aerial spraying in the cashew estates of Plantation Corporation of Kerala for over two decades had been attributed as the sole cause for life of misery and trauma being suffered by hundreds of people. Around 500 people had succumbed to mysterious diseases, while over 2,200 people are leading an agonising life where the pesticide had been used extensively.
The Minister urged the people to go back to organic farming to ensure food security and stop excess dependence on vegetables grown in neighbouring States. Describing ‘Harithayoram' project, that envisages utilising nearly 500 hectares of waste land lying on either side of the National Highway from Kalikadavu town to Thalapady, as his ‘dream project,' the Minister said the project was conceived to ensure food security by cultivating vegetables and bananas using organic farming methods.
Kerala, which boasts of rich biodiversity, unfortunately had to depend extensively on other States for essential food items, including fruits, vegetables and paddy, he said attributing the dismal scenario to low priority accorded to farming.
Source: The Hindu, 4-12-2010
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